Turkey: 16,654 companies closed in first seven months of 2026

Republican People's Party (CHP) Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer reported that 16,654 companies closed during the first seven months of 2026. The breakdown of closures includes 13,414 limited companies, 2,738 joint-stock companies, 484 cooperatives, 16 collective companies, and 2 commandite companies.

Gürer highlighted that rising costs for rent, energy, personnel, transportation, taxes, and financing, combined with declining purchasing power, are placing immense pressure on small tradespeople and businesses. He noted that competition from shopping malls and chain supermarkets further exacerbates these challenges.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also facing significant debt burdens. Total SME credit levels have reached approximately 7.3 trillion lira. Of the 5.2 million SME customers, the majority are micro-enterprises, followed by small and medium-sized businesses. Gürer emphasized that difficulties in repaying these loans are hindering the ability of businesses to maintain production and operations.