Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Sector Points to a New Export Record

The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association, which has been the union with the highest exports among Aegean Exporters Unions for 8 years, increased its exports in the first half of 2025 by 11 percent from USD 1.176 billion to USD 1.303527 billion and maintained its clear leadership position.

The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association is signaling that if it maintains its successful performance trajectory in the second half of 2025, it will break the USD 2.564 billion export record it achieved in 2022.

Yalçın Ertan, Deputy Coordinator Chairman of the Aegean Exporters Unions and Chairman of the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association, stated that they hold a 14.5 percent share of Aegean Exporters Unions' exports, noting that the Iron-Steel sub-sector dominates the association's exports with USD 950 million in exports.

Aegean Region Outperforms Turkey Average
Ertan shared that Turkey's overall iron and non-ferrous metals exports in the June period rose by 6.5 percent to USD 6.450 billion, saying "Turkey's overall steel exports increased by 4.6 percent to USD 8.273 billion. Our two sectors increased their exports by 5 percent, bringing USD 14.7 billion in foreign currency to Turkey. The Aegean Region's export performance in the iron and non-ferrous metals and steel sectors was more successful. We achieved high growth in both volume and value terms for products such as 'Profile, Filmachine' and 'Billets'. Copper products exceeded our union's overall growth rate with a 13 percent value increase," he said.

Pointing out that high input and energy costs and high interest rates with attempts to keep the exchange rate fixed have created an unfavorable environment for exports, Chairman Ertan continued as follows: "Our exporters, struggling to compete in foreign markets, unfortunately cannot offset the excessive increases in energy and input costs due to rising inflation. This situation negatively affects our sector's competitiveness. Trade wars that have begun between the United States and China are creating uncertainty in global markets, and this uncertainty is particularly creating pressure in manufacturing industries. Despite economic uncertainties, our sector continues to be the driving force of our country's economy and foreign trade by increasing its exports. Our expectation is for the capacity utilization rate, which was 62 percent in the first four months of 2025, to reach 70 percent by year-end. Thus, as a sector, we will take steps to compensate for the losses we experienced in previous years."

Copper Exports Reached USD 184.8 Million
When examining the export performance of the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association's sub-sectors, copper sector exports increased by 13 percent from USD 163.888 million to USD 184.877 million.

The metals sector exported USD 100 million with a 2 percent increase, while aluminum exports rose from USD 66.284 million in January-June 2024 to USD 68.09 million in January-June 2025.

Morocco, Germany and Italy Lead Exports
The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association exported to 170 countries in the January-June 2025 period, with exports to Morocco increasing by 300 percent from USD 35 million to USD 141 million. With this rapid increase, Morocco jumped 10 positions to reach the top. Germany ranked second with USD 125.8 million in demand, while Italy claimed the third position with USD 83 million in foreign sales. Members of the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association exported USD 70.9 million to the United States and USD 57 million to the United Kingdom in iron and non-ferrous metals.