Russian pig iron exports fall 11% as Turkey takes 74% of shipments

Russian exports decline to 1.54 million tonnes

Russian metallurgical producers exported 1.54 million tonnes of pig iron in the first half of 2026, an 11% decline from the same period of 2025, according to Metals & Mining Intelligence data reviewed by Vedomosti. The result points to weaker overall foreign demand for a primary input used by steelmakers and foundries.

There is a discrepancy in the supplied reporting period. The Vedomosti article states that the figures cover January-June 2026, while its accompanying headline describes January-May. Both cite the same export volume and annual decline. The underlying Metals & Mining Intelligence figures, as presented in the article text, refer to the first half of the year.

The contraction means Russian exporters sold less pig iron abroad even as shipments became more concentrated in their largest market. For buyers, the decline provides a narrower picture of internationally available Russian material. For producers, it increases the importance of maintaining access to the destinations that continue to accept large cargoes.

Turkey absorbs nearly three-quarters of shipments

Turkey was the leading buyer of Russian pig iron during the period, importing 1.14 million tonnes. That represented 74% of all Russian export shipments, Vedomosti reported, citing the agency. The volume shows that Turkey alone received most of the 1.54 million tonnes shipped by Russian suppliers.

The concentration increased sharply from the first half of 2025, when Turkey accounted for 50% of Russian pig iron exports. Turkey's share therefore rose by 24 percentage points within a year. The change leaves Russian trade flows substantially more dependent on purchasing decisions, steel production and inventory requirements in one destination market.

For Turkish importers, the flows provide access to a major external source of iron units for steelmaking. For Russian exporters, however, a 74% concentration limits diversification. Any change in Turkish demand, payment conditions, freight availability or procurement policy could affect a much larger portion of Russia's pig iron trade than it did one year earlier.

Russia dominates Turkey's import supply

Russia supplied 90% of Turkey's imported pig iron in January-June 2026, according to the Metals & Mining Intelligence data cited by Vedomosti. Russia was therefore not only the main destination-dependent exporter in this trade relationship but also Turkey's overwhelmingly dominant foreign supplier.

Russia's share of Turkish pig iron imports was 75% in the first half of 2025. The increase to 90% represents a rise of 15 percentage points. Combined with Turkey's growing share of Russian exports, the figures show that the bilateral pig iron trade became more concentrated in both directions.

This concentration creates a close commercial link between Russian producers and Turkish steel buyers. Russian exporters rely on Turkey for almost three-quarters of their foreign sales, while Turkish importers obtain nine-tenths of their imported pig iron from Russia. The 11% decline in Russia's total exports suggests that stronger bilateral concentration did not offset weakness in shipments to the wider international market.