Türkiye's free zones continued to strengthen their role as export-oriented production and trade hubs, setting a new export record of USD 7.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 6.9 percent year-on-year.
According to data released by the Ministry of Trade, exports from Türkiye's 19 free zones reached USD 1.15 billion in July alone, marking an 11.3 percent year-on-year increase. Exports accounted for 76.8 percent of total sales generated in the free zones during the January-July period, the highest share recorded for the first seven months of a year.
Medium-high- and high-technology products accounted for 57.4 percent of total exports from Türkiye's free zones in the first seven months of the year. Medium-high-technology products represented 50.4 percent of exports, while high-technology products accounted for 7 percent.
The strong share of technology-intensive products highlights the growing contribution of free zones to Türkiye's high-value-added production and export ecosystem, supporting the country's transition toward more technology-driven and competitive exports.
The Aegean Free Zone led Türkiye's free zones in exports, generating USD 1.96 billion during the January-July period, followed by the Bursa Free Zone with USD 1.21 billion. Exports from the Bursa Free Zone increased by 32.7 percent year-on-year.
The Antalya Free Zone recorded the highest growth among the leading zones, with exports rising 40.2 percent year-on-year to USD 447 million. Exports from the Adana-Yumurtalık Free Zone also increased by 32.3 percent to USD 341 million.
Overall, six free zones recorded export growth of more than 10 percent during the first seven months of 2026, further demonstrating the resilience and competitiveness of Türkiye's export-oriented production base.
As of July 2026, Türkiye's free zones host 1,934 companies, including 474 companies with foreign capital, and provide employment for 87,655 people.
With their strategic locations, export-oriented infrastructure, investment incentives, and access to regional and global markets, Türkiye's free zones continue to offer a competitive platform for international investors seeking to establish production and trade operations in Türkiye.
As Türkiye advances the Türkiye Century, its free zones are emerging as strategic enablers of the country's Trade Century, supporting higher-value-added production, stronger export capacity, and deeper integration into global value chains. Their growing contribution to technology-intensive exports and international trade further reinforces Türkiye's position as the powerhouse for investment, production, and trade.