British Steel Wins Tens of Millions in Turkish Rail Deal Despite Financial Struggles

British Steel has landed a major international contract worth tens of millions of pounds to supply rail for a new high-speed railway in Turkey, offering a rare commercial bright spot for the government-controlled steelmaker. The deal, described as an “eight-figure agreement,” will see the Scunthorpe plant deliver 36,000 tonnes of rail to ERG International Group for use on a 599km line connecting Ankara and İzmir.
The Turkish railway project promises to dramatically cut travel times between the capital and the western port city while also reducing carbon emissions — a dual benefit that underscores the global push for greener transport infrastructure. British Steel’s involvement in such a project signals its continued relevance as a supplier of high-quality rail products on the international stage.
Perhaps most significantly for the workforce, the contract has enabled British Steel to create 23 new jobs at the north Lincolnshire site and to resume round-the-clock rail manufacturing for the first time in over a decade. The restart of 24-hour production is considered a meaningful operational milestone, reflecting the scale of the order and the confidence it has inspired.
The deal was backed by UK Export Finance, the government’s export credit agency, which helped facilitate the agreement and demonstrated state-level support for British Steel’s international ambitions. Industry figures have welcomed the contract as proof that the plant can compete globally, even as its domestic financial situation remains precarious.
Despite the good news, the Scunthorpe works continues to lose £1.2 million every single day under government control, with total losses since the state takeover reaching £359 million. Analysts are increasingly asking how long taxpayers can continue to fund operations without a clear long-term plan for the plant’s future.