Turkey reports continuous economic growth and rising defense exports

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the national economy has achieved continuous growth for twenty-four consecutive quarters, spanning six years. He noted that the economy reached a current price volume of $1.602 trillion, with per capita national income rising significantly from $3,616 in 2002 to approximately $18,103 in 2025.

In the defense sector, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır reported that Turkey has reached an 80 percent localization rate. Turkey currently ranks 8th globally in defense industry exports, with a value of $4.23 billion, and aims to enter the top 10 next year.

Regional economic data shows the Ege (Aegean) Region's exports reached $29.2 billion in the first eight months of 2026. Within the region, Muğla emerged as a leader in export growth, surpassing the $1 billion mark with a 13.61 percent increase. İzmir remains the dominant contributor, accounting for over 53 percent of the region's total exports.