Turkey's cement exports climbed to a fresh multi-year high in July, supported by robust demand from the US and Syria, as well as stronger sales into European markets.
Turkey exported 1.79mn t of cement in July, up by 2pc from a year earlier and 1pc from June, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT). The July total was the highest since August 2022. January-July exports rose to 10.73mn t from 10.21mn t in the same period last year.
The US remained Turkey's largest cement export market by far, accounting for around a third of total Turkish cement exports during the month. This was despite shipments falling by 19pc year on year and 24pc on the month to 593,000t. Exports to the US continued to lag year-earlier levels largely because of weaker construction activity and competition from lower-cost suppliers from North Africa and Asia.
Syria remained the second-largest destination, despite easing from the record high of 305,000t in May. Turkish cement exports to Syria rose by 79pc year on year and 13pc from June to 246,000t in July. January-July shipments totalled 1.46mn t, more than double the same period in 2025, reflecting ongoing reconstruction activity and growing cross-border trade flows.
Demand from Europe also remained firm despite concerns over the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism and anxiety about whether companies will be able to get their emissions verified in time to avoid using default emission values, which would be exceptionally expensive for Turkish cement.
Exports to Italy increased to 116,000t, up by 11pc year on year, while dispatches to Bulgaria and Romania rose by 19pc and 46pc to 67,900t and 66,100t, respectively.
Clinker exports drop
Clinker exports eased in July from high June levels but remained above a year earlier.
Turkey exported 709,000t of clinker in July, up by 5pc from a year earlier but down by 18pc on the month, according to GTT data. January-July clinker exports totalled 3.97mn t, down from 4.74mn t in the same period last year.
Syria was again one of the fastest-growing clinker destinations. Exports to the country increased to 114,000t, tripling on the year and marking a 38pc increase from June.
Exports to the US, typically a larger buyer of cement than clinker, rose by 67pc year on year to 65,000t.
Exports to Italy, one of the largest EU buyers of clinker, fell by 30pc year on year to 77,700t. There were no shipments to Spain, another traditional buyer of Turkish clinker that had taken 55,000t in July 2025.
Dispatches to Ivory Coast also fell to zero in July after the country was the largest destination over April-June. But exports to Guinea, an occasional buyer last year, reached 41,300t in July.
