In August this year, Turkey’s iron ore imports amounted to 841,049 metric tons, down by 10.2 percent compared to July and increasing by 99.3 percent year on year, according to the preliminary data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, the revenue generated by these imports totaled $85.25 million, decreasing by 19.2 percent compared to the previous month and up by 117.9 percent year on year.

In the first eight months of the year, Turkey‘s iron ore imports amounted to 6.59 million mt, down 7.3 percent, while the value of these imports decreased by 23.3 percent to $696.95 million, both year on year.

Turkey’s iron ore imports – last 12 months

In the given period, Turkey’s largest iron ore import source was Brazil, with 4.38 million mt, down by 17.1 percent year on year. Brazil was followed by Uzbekistan with 593,535 mt and Sweden with 330,712 mt, down 40.7 percent and 49.9 percent year on year, respectively.

Turkey’s top 10 iron ore import sources in the January-August period this year:

Country
Amount (mt)
 
 
 
 
 

 
January-August 2025
January- August 2024
Y-o-y change (%)
August 2025
August 2024
Y-o-y change (%)

Brazil
4,376,558
5,278,610
-17.09
576,467
336,548
71.29

Uzbekistan
593,535
1,001,047
-40.71
–
33,001
–

Sweden
495,722
989,927
-49.92
165,010
–
–

Ukraine
405,367
1,094,683
-62.97
82,504
–
–

Russia
297,279
497,377
-40.23
14,612
51,404
-71.57

S. Africa
167,635
861,166
-80.53
–
–
–

Norway
165,294
–
–
–
–
–

Uruguay
79,531
–
–
–
–
–

Romania
5,617
4,332
29.66
2,446
749
226.57

Macedonia
702
2,551
-72.48
 
357
–

Shares in Turkey’s iron ore imports – January-August 2025