Hasan Akbulut: Türkiye’s steel industry has a competitive advantage with its low emission production structure

Speaking at the climate change workshop organized by Adıyaman University under the theme “Preparing Adıyaman for the Future,” Hasan Akbulut, Technical Affairs Director of the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the steel industry’s emission reduction efforts, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and the transformation process toward the 2053 net-zero target.
Akbulut emphasized that thanks to Türkiye’s production method advantage, the country has lower carbon intensity compared to its global competitors.
The program, held at Adıyaman University’s Mustafa Vehbi Koç Conference Hall, was attended by Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, Adıyaman University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Keleş, Chief Public Prosecutor Gökhan Şahin, heads of public institutions, NGO representatives, academic and administrative staff, and students.
In his presentation, Akbulut shared data on Türkiye’s steel production infrastructure, noting that the country has a total of 44 crude steel plants, including 3 integrated plants (BOF), 30 electric arc furnace (EAF) plants, and 11 induction furnace facilities. He stated that these facilities are mainly concentrated in Kocaeli, İzmir, Hatay (İskenderun), Karabük, Zonguldak, Tekirdağ, Osmaniye, and Samsun.
Sharing 2025 global production rankings, Akbulut said that Türkiye ranked 7th in the world with 38.1 million tons of crude steel production. He noted that production increased by 3.3% from 36.8 million tons in 2024 to 38.1 million tons in 2025, while global production declined by 2.0% to 1.8 billion tons. Türkiye’s share of global output stood at 2.1%.
Akbulut also stated that Türkiye’s finished steel consumption reached 39.3 million tons in 2025. In overall foreign trade, exports totaled 15.1 million tons, while imports amounted to 18.9 million tons. In trade with the EU, Türkiye exported 6.0 million tons in 2025, while imports from the EU fell to 2.0 million tons.
Highlighting Türkiye’s advantageous position in terms of carbon emissions, Akbulut said that 70% of production is carried out in electric arc furnaces and 30% in integrated plants. According to a study conducted by Laplace Conseil, Türkiye’s average CO₂ emissions amount to 1.10 tons per ton of steel, which is below the global average of 1.92 tons, as well as China’s 2.10 tons and India’s 2.18 tons. He added that emissions in scrap-based EAF production range between 0.3–0.7 tons of CO₂, while in the conventional blast furnace (BOF) route, emissions increases to 2.0–2.3 tons of CO₂.
Akbulut stated that under the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s Low-Carbon Steel Project, projections for 2053 foresee total capacity increasing to 97.78 million tons, with the EAF share reaching 85%, while total production is expected to stand at 69.06 million tons. According to the prepared report, a transition to green hydrogen, low-carbon production technologies, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) applications is planned starting from 2026.
Recalling that the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be fully implemented as of 2026, Akbulut noted that free allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System will begin to be reduced by 2.5% in 2026 and will be completely phased out by 2034. By 2034, production costs are projected to increase by 11% due to carbon taxation. He emphasized that while the technologies required for green steel production are known, their large-scale commercialization  beyond pilot applications is still awaited by the Turkish steel industry. He also stressed the importance of demand-side sectors accepting the significant price premiums that will arise from green steel production. Studies indicate that while the global average cost of integrated steel production is around USD 390 per ton, costs in green hydrogen-based DRI + EAF production could reach USD 650 per ton.
Addressing scrap supply, Akbulut stated that Türkiye was the world’s largest scrap importer in 2024 with 20.4 million tons. He noted that several countries have already banned or restricted scrap exports and that there are concerns the number of such countries could soon reach 60. According to studies by various organizations, achieving the 2053 net-zero target will require approximately USD 31 billion in investments in the steel sector. Together with the cement sector, total investment needs in critical industries exceed USD 70 billion, while projections covering the entire industrial sector amount to USD 265 billion.
Akbulut also drew attention to differences in government support, noting that EU countries have provided EUR 15.1 billion in grants to the steel sector, whereas Türkiye lacks comparable support mechanisms. He also pointed to potential risks stemming from additional U.S. tariffs and possible trade diversion under the EU’s new free trade agreements.
The presentation concluded that Türkiye’s EAF-dominant production structure provides a significant initial advantage in the green steel transition. However, financing needs, raw material access constraints, and global trade pressures remain key risks for the sector.

Author: SteelRadar Editorial Team

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Turkish Togg recorded more than 88.000 users in 2025

In 2025, Togg delivered 39,020 units of the T10X and T10F models to users, bringing its total user base to over 88,000.

Fuat Tosyalı, Chairman of the Board of Togg, stated that in 2025 the company reached many important milestones on its journey to becoming Türkiye’s global mobility brand and to expanding its mobility ecosystem across Europe. He said, “With our smart vehicles, our digital experience platform Trumore, our clean energy solutions Trugo and Siro, and our technology company Trutek, which focuses on the technologies of tomorrow, we are redefining mobility both in our country and in Europe. In 2026, which we see as a year of deepening and maturation, we will continue with the same determination to develop future technologies and move forward in line with our goals.”

Togg, Türkiye’s global technology brand in the field of mobility, achieved its targets in 2025 in line with its short-, mid-, and long-term roadmap. Evaluating the year 2025, Fuat Tosyalı, Chairman of the Board of Togg, recalled that after proving its success in Türkiye, Togg began its European journey in 2025, starting with Germany, and stated as follows:

“For seven years, we progressed in line with our plans and, for the first time in our history, succeeded in producing a smart vehicle whose intellectual property rights are entirely owned by our country. Following our first native electric smart vehicle, the T10X, we were delighted to introduce our second model, the T10F, to our users. We are proud that both the T10X and T10F models received the highest rating of five stars in Euro NCAP safety tests. With this rating, the T10X and T10F became two of the three safest cars in Europe.We offered both the T10X and T10F to users not only in Türkiye but also in Germany. We continue to work with full determination to become one of the most preferred brands in the European market, alongside Türkiye’s growing electric vehicle ecosystem. In Germany, where we followed a controlled plan for 2025, we signed 240 sales contracts in November and December and delivered 144 vehicles by year-end. Our deliveries are still ongoing.Being perceived as a ‘European manufacturer,’ our continuously updated software enabled by over-the-air updates, our simple digital experience, and the five-star rating from Euro NCAP are highly appreciated by German users. The end-to-end digital purchasing process we manage through Trumore also offers a transparent, trackable experience that meets expectations. To date, the number of people who have downloaded our Trumore application in Germany allowing users to manage processes such as pre-sales test drive appointments, sales, payments, financing, and after sales services has exceeded 50,000.”

Emphasizing Togg’s leadership in the electric vehicle market, Tosyalı continued: “The T10X continued to be one of the locomotive models of our brand in 2025 as well. There has also been strong interest in the T10F, which we introduced to the market as of September. The stability of the T10X in the market and the new interest generated by the T10F have complemented each other. This shows us that we are moving forward with the right steps at the right time as we expand our product range.

In 2025, we also introduced our dual-motor, all-wheel-drive 4More series, which offers higher performance, to our users. The T10X 4More Obsidian special edition stood out with its details inspired by the black tones of obsidian stone. In 2026, we will offer new color options for both the T10X and T10F. In addition, in the coming years we are focusing on increasing the range of Togg options we offer to our users with new models in different segments. For us, the most valuable thing is for our vehicles to grow by building a long-term relationship of trust with our users.”

“We Are Raising Quality Even Further Through Continuous Improvement Efforts”

Emphasizing that the continuous improvements implemented in the T10X have significantly enhanced the level of quality experienced by users, Tosyalı stated: “As a result of the continuous improvement efforts carried out on our T10X model, we achieved a significant improvement in user-reported quality feedback compared to the previous year. In the user satisfaction surveys that we measure on an ongoing basis, we recorded a 34% improvement in indicators related to perceived quality. We also launched our second smart device, the T10F, at a higher starting point in terms of quality indicators compared to the initial launch phase of the T10X. This is a concrete outcome of the learnings we have gained across our product development, production, and quality management processes.”

“Trugo Completed 5 Million Successful Charges”

Highlighting that Trugo is also the market leader, providing uninterrupted and convenient service to all electric vehicle users across all 81 provinces of Türkiye with ultra-fast charging stations, Fuat Tosyalı said: “Since April 2023, Trugo, as a licensed charging network operator, has completed 5 million successful charging sessions. Together with our partners, we operate more than 2,200 stations and over 4,000 sockets across 81 provinces, serving all electric vehicles and using 100% renewable energy for our ultra-fast chargers. With uninterrupted power, our widespread charging network, and high-speed charging solutions, we continue to support Türkiye’s energy transition.”

“We Are Also Supporting Users Through Authorized Dealerships”

Tosyalı also emphasized that Togg is expanding its network of experience and service points through new partnerships to reach more users: “Today, Togg serves users in all 81 provinces through a total of 22 experience centers 14 fixed and 8 mobile and 76 service points 41 physical and 35 mobile. Our priority is to provide the best experience at every touchpoint. As of December, a pilot program launched new authorized dealerships and service points in Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, Trabzon, and Tekirdağ. It is very important to us that our users know there is a reliable service point nearby that they can quickly access when needed. With this new structure, we aim to strengthen the Togg ecosystem and reach our users more effectively across all regions. Our 2026 expansion plans are entirely based on user feedback, field data, and ecosystem needs.”

Fuat Tosyalı stated that Togg will grow in 2026 with a balanced and sustainable approach: “We will continue our efforts to steadily increase T10X and T10F sales and market share in the Turkish market. On the product side, we will keep expanding user choices with new colors, versions, and models. We also plan to expand our sales and after-sales service network through authorized dealership agreements. In Germany, we aim to gain momentum in our second calendar year in the market. In short, we see 2026 as a year of deepening, maturation, and growth. We will continue to continuously improve our products with software and digital services and grow in Europe in a controlled yet determined manner. Our priority will always be user trust, quality, and sustainability.”

Author: SteelRadar Editorial Team

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Türkiye has fully used its quota capacity in 6 product categories under the EU safeguard system

Türkiye recorded full quota utilization in six product categories for its steel exports to the EU during the period of 1 October-31 December 2025. The highest usage was seen in HRC and hollow sections.

According to data compiled by SteelRadar from the European Commission, Türkiye fully used its quotas for 16,048 tons of organic coated sheets, 479,925 tons of HRC, 100,456 tons of hollow sections, 38,882 tons of welded pipes (other welded), 15,246 tons of large welded pipes and 96,390 tons of rebar.

In the final quota period of the year, Türkiye fully utilized most product quotas for the first time in recent periods.

With these products, Türkiye achieved 100% utilization in a total of five categories. Additionally, it used 99.9% of its 120,200-ton wire rod quota, 86.4% of its 111,166-ton merchant bars and light sections quota, 58.6% of its 22,184-ton stainless HR quarto plate quota, 50.4% of its 53,767-ton merchant bars and light sections quota (other category), and 44.3% of its 1,683-ton railway materials quota.

Among other countries, China fully used its quotas for 129,758 tons of 4B metallic coated sheets, 5,019 tons of stainless HR quarto plate, 143,225 tons of merchant bars and light sections, 7,148 tons of sheet piles, 39,196 tons of seamless pipes (other) and 8,243 tons of welded pipes (other). India fully utilized its quotas for 80,249 tons of organic coated sheets, 32,403 tons of stainless merchant bars and light sections, 6,004 tons of seamless stainless pipes and 304,720 tons of HRC. South Korea, also among the countries reaching full capacity, fully used its 37,973-ton quota for 4A metallic coated sheets and its 72,527-ton quota for organic coated sheets, while Taiwan fully used its quotas for 23,244 tons of organic coated sheets and 29,716 tons of hollow sections.

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