Turkey's first‑half 2026 exports hit $136.6 billion, with shipbuilding, food and textiles driving growth

Turkey's export value for January‑June 2026 reached $136.6 billion, a 3.6 % increase over the same period of 2025, according to the Ministry of Trade. Twenty‑one provinces recorded more than $1 billion in export sales, with Istanbul leading at $4.8 billion, followed by Kocaeli, İzmir, Bursa and Tekirdağ.

Sector‑specific performance varied: shipbuilding and yacht exports rose to about $1.5 billion, highlighted by a record $616 million shipment to Norway. Food‑related exports showed strong growth – grain and cereal sales totaled $5.8 billion, dried‑fruit exports hit $752 million (62 % from Ege exporters), and fish‑feed exports jumped 31 % to $35.4 million, driven largely by the Ege region. In contrast, textile and ready‑wear exports slipped, with overall textile sales at $5.6 billion and ready‑wear down 7.5 % to $558 million.

Free‑zone activity accounted for roughly half of the $14.3 billion trade volume in the first half, with 86,000 employees and $6 billion in exports. The Ege Free Zone led with $1.69 billion in external sales, while Bursa Free Zone crossed $1 billion in export turnover for the first time. These figures underscore the broad, sector‑wide contribution of Turkey’s export ecosystem in H1 2026.