Germany Trade Delegation Berlin
Germany Trade Delegation Berlin: Turkish Steel Exporters in Berlin for Business Meetings
Turkish steel exporters took part in a major gathering in the heart of Europe in spring 2024. Under the Germany Trade Delegation Berlin program, 21 companies and 33 representatives from Türkiye traveled to Berlin for the SteelOrbis 2024 Spring Conference and the 90th IREPAS Meeting, held on 28-30 April 2024. Organized by the Steel Exporters’ Association (ÇİB), the delegation aimed to build new business connections in Germany — the Turkish steel sector’s largest export market.
Germany Trade Delegation at a Glance
The key details of the event are summarized below:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Germany Trade Delegation, concurrent with the SteelOrbis 2024 Spring Conference & 90th IREPAS Meeting |
| Organizer | Steel Exporters’ Association (ÇİB) |
| Date | 28-30 April 2024 |
| Location | Berlin / Germany |
| Bilateral meetings | Monday, 29 April 2024, 09:00-18:00, InterContinental Berlin Hotel |
| Participation from Türkiye | 21 companies, 33 representatives |
Alongside the conference sessions, the program featured a dedicated day of one-on-one meetings for Turkish firms. This format gave exporters the chance both to follow the global market outlook and to sit down directly with potential buyers.
SteelOrbis 2024 Spring Conference and 90th IREPAS Meeting
What Is IREPAS?
IREPAS (International Rebar Producers and Exporters Association) was founded in 1983 by Spanish and Brazilian producers and has since become the world’s leading meeting point for long steel products and scrap markets. What began as an exchange of views on rebar markets gradually widened to include wire rod, sections, scrap supply, logistics, and finance players. Held twice a year in cooperation with SteelOrbis, the conferences are platforms where the sector takes stock of supply-demand balance and price trends.
Bilateral Business Meetings in Berlin
The 90th meeting brought together the world’s leading long-steel producers, traders, and raw material suppliers in Berlin. Turkish firms held face-to-face talks with their international counterparts during the session at the InterContinental Berlin Hotel on Monday, 29 April. Events like these provide strategic ground for exporters to open new market doors and reinforce existing trade relationships.
Why the Delegation Matters for the Turkish Steel Sector
Germany: Türkiye’s Number One Steel Market
Hosting the delegation in Germany was a strategic choice. In 2023, Germany ranked first in Türkiye’s iron and steel exports with roughly USD 2.5 billion in purchases, followed by Romania and Italy. The leading markets:
| Rank | Market | 2023 (full year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | Lead Market, ~USD 2.5 billion |
| 2 | Romania | Second-largest market |
| 3 | Italy | Third-largest market |
Source: exporters’ association data. This table makes clear why the business connections formed in Berlin carry high value for the Turkish steel sector.
The EU Market and the ECSC Advantage
Under the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) agreement in force since 1996, iron and steel products can be exported duty-free to EU member states. This arrangement keeps large-scale markets such as Germany accessible to Turkish exporters and increases the commercial return of delegations like the one in Berlin.
A Strong Start to 2024 and the Green Transition Agenda
The Turkish steel sector entered 2024 with momentum. In January 2024, steel product exports rose by around 23% year-on-year in volume to 894.7 thousand tons; in the same period, Türkiye once again moved ahead of Germany to reclaim 7th place in world crude steel production and the position of Europe’s largest producer. The Berlin delegation was well-timed to convert this positive picture into commercial connections.
The green transition was among the conference’s prominent themes. With its transitional period beginning at the end of 2023, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is making the carbon footprint an increasingly decisive competitive factor for steel suppliers exporting to the European market.
Çakıroğlu Metal and Its Export Vision
Çakıroğlu Metal closely follow the commercial channels that gatherings like Berlin open up — at a time when Germany stands as the number one export market for Turkish steel. From our center in Tuzla, we deliver long products, flat products, profiles, and steel mesh to all 81 provinces of Türkiye, while prioritizing the growth of our export volume and the strengthening of our supply presence in the European market. Every new connection formed in the global arena adds to the international visibility of our supply network.
Conclusion
The Germany Trade Delegation Berlin program enabled Turkish steel exporters to make face-to-face contact in their largest market. Held concurrently with the 90th IREPAS Meeting, the delegation carries the potential to channel the sector’s strong export momentum in early 2024 into concrete business ties. Events of this kind continue to consolidate Türkiye’s standing in global steel trade.
News Source
Çakıroğlu Group – Media Services
01/05/2024
