The iron and steel sector constitutes one of the fundamental inputs of the industrialization process and holds a strategic importance for economic development, infrastructure investment, and industrial production. Following the establishment of the Republic, iron and steel production in Türkiye was placed at the center of state-led industrialization policies and gradually developed into an institutionalized sector through public investments, particularly from the 1930s onward. This study aims to examine the historical development of the iron and steel sector in Türkiye during the Republican period and to analyze the sector’s production structure, foreign trade performance, and regional socio-economic impacts. The study employs historical and descriptive analysis methods and comparatively examines three main periods: the early Republican era (1923–1950), the planned development period (1960–1980), and the post-1980 liberalization process. The findings indicate that the iron and steel sector developed largely within the framework of import-substitution industrialization policies and experienced a significant increase in production capacity. However, persistent structural problems in the foreign trade balance continue due to factors such as raw material dependency and product composition. The study also demonstrates that iron and steel investments contributed to transforming local economic structures by increasing employment and regional income levels in industrial centers such as Karabük, Ereğli, and İskenderun, thereby indirectly contributing to poverty reduction. Nevertheless, the capital-intensive nature of the sector suggests that its poverty-reducing effects largely depend on the development of supporting industries, regional economic linkages, and the expansion of qualified employment opportunities. By examining Türkiye’s industrialization experience through the iron and steel sector, this study aims to contribute to the literature on the relationship between industrial policy, foreign trade structure, and poverty.

Iron and Steel İndustry, Industrialization, Foreign Trade, Import Substitution, Poverty.