A deadly explosion at the HABAŞ steelmaking complex, one of Turkey’s major steel producers, has left 16 people dead and 13 injured. The incident occurred on Monday, 9 November 2026, in the Aliaga industrial zone in Izmir Province. The resulting shutdown of the plant has raised concerns about its impact on steel production and supply.
According to Steel World Review, citing Anadolu Agency and Reuters, the explosion occurred at approximately 11:46 a.m. local time during maintenance operations at the steelmaking facility. According to preliminary statements by local authorities, the collapse of an overhead crane and its impact with electric arc furnace equipment damaged a natural gas line, triggering the explosion. However, the definitive cause of the incident will depend on the findings of technical and judicial investigations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that 16 people had been killed and 13 injured, and announced that judicial and administrative investigations had been launched to establish the full circumstances of the incident. According to local officials, maintenance work was underway when the explosion occurred. Emergency response and firefighting teams were dispatched to the site following the incident to contain the fire and assist the injured.
What Is HABAŞ and What Products Does It Manufacture?
The HABAŞ complex is located in the Aliaga industrial zone, approximately 60 kilometres north of Izmir and close to the port and industrial infrastructure along the Aegean coast. It is one of Turkey’s major steel producers, with a stated crude steelmaking capacity of approximately 4.5 million tonnes per year.
The complex’s operations cover an integrated production chain, including crude steel production using electric arc furnaces, casting and rolling of steel products. Its output includes billets and semi-finished steel products, as well as rolled products used in construction and downstream industries.
According to published information on Turkey’s steel industry, HABAŞ produced approximately 3.8 million tonnes of crude steel in 2024. This represents a significant share of Turkey’s crude steel production and highlights the operational importance of the complex to the country’s domestic and export supply chains.
Production Halt and Potential Implications for the Steel Market
Following the explosion, production activities at the complex were suspended. No specific timeline has yet been announced for the resumption of operations. The plant’s return to production will depend on the extent of equipment damage, the findings of safety inspections and the completion of repair work.
A production halt at a facility of this scale could affect order delivery schedules, the supply of semi-finished products and the availability of rolled steel products, particularly if repairs continue for an extended period.
However, no confirmed figures have yet been released regarding the extent of production losses, the volume of affected export shipments or changes in steel product prices resulting from the incident. Therefore, an assessment of its commercial and pricing impact will depend on the actual duration of the plant’s shutdown.
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the explosion, the safety condition of the equipment and the potential responsibility of the parties involved.
