ISTANBUL, Turkey – April 8, 2025 — Industry leaders at the Eurometal Steel Day & YISAD Flat Steel Conference emphasized that steel service centers must boost investments to remain competitive, as global market dynamics continue to shift. The conference, held at the Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of the flat steel trade, especially the role of service centers.
During the panel, moderated by SteelOrbis General Manager Murat Eryılmaz, experts tackled challenges stemming from the energy crisis, market volatility, and shifting global demand.
Alexander Julius, President of EUROMETAL, said the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has altered production in Europe and led to a slowdown in green transformation investments. He noted that “2024 was a bad year because of lingering effects from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.” Julius also stressed that steel producers and service centers must work in sync to build a transparent value chain, especially for customers with emission targets.
Uğur Usta, Deputy General Manager of UMS Metal, highlighted a tough year for Turkey’s steel sector, pointing to declining steel prices, high interest rates, and weak European demand. He stated that “2024 was a year of losses,” and while demand remains uncertain, “prices are unlikely to fall much further.” Usta added that steel service centers globally earned $350 billion in revenue in 2024, a figure projected to rise to $450 billion within a decade. To stay competitive, Turkey must focus on value-added products, he said.
From Yücel Group, Sales Director Kaan Sarnıç said 2023 was modestly profitable, but that 2024 saw rising energy and labor costs alongside falling dollar-based prices, leading to widespread losses in the sector. He stressed that “Turkish service centers rely more on material sales, while European counterparts profit from processing services,” and urged Turkish firms to diversify inventory quality to remain competitive.
Meanwhile, Mehmet Ali Fincan, General Manager of Yametaş Flat Metal Products, pointed to China’s aggressive exports, the EU’s slowdown, and Turkey’s economic struggles as key challenges in 2024. Fincan emphasized the value of service centers in providing integrated solutions that save buyers time and cost. However, he cautioned that rising costs, raw material price fluctuations, and mounting competition are major concerns, calling for technological upgrades and consistent investment.
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