Geopolitical Chess: Protectionism and Quotas

The US-China Tension: Global dynamics have been severely shaken by a two-pronged pressure: the United States has doubled its additional tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%, while China—facing shrinking domestic demand—continues its aggressive strategy of offloading excess capacity into global markets as "low-cost exports."

Turkey’s Strategic Position: Caught in the crossfire, Turkey is navigating a complex "strategic negotiation" phase. While striving to align with the European Union’s new trade regimes (such as CBAM), the Turkish metallurgical sector is simultaneously battling high energy costs and rising labor expenses to maintain its competitive edge.

Executive Summary: The State of Metallurgy in 2026

In 2026, metallurgy is no longer just the process of extracting metal from ore. It has evolved into a high-stakes art of survival—one that requires mastering digital efficiency, transitioning to clean production via hydrogen, and weathering the relentless storm of carbon taxes.