Türkiye’s machinery exports rose to $26 billion in the first 11 months of the year, marking a modest 0.8% increase compared with the same period in 2024, as the sector continued to navigate weak global manufacturing activity and shifting trade dynamics. The figures point to value-based resilience, even as export volumes came under pressure.
According to data released by the Machinery Exporters’ Association (MAIB), shipment volumes declined by 6.9% in tonnage terms during the January–November period. However, average export prices remained at a historic high of $8.10 per kilogram, helping offset lower volumes and support overall export value. On a rolling 12-month basis through November, Türkiye’s total machinery exports reached $28.4 billion.
Germany maintained its position as Türkiye’s largest machinery export market, with shipments increasing 5.3% year-on-year to $2.9 billion. The United States ranked second, importing $1.7 billion worth of Turkish machinery, up 6.7% compared with the previous year. Regional trends showed sharp contrasts, with exports to Iraq declining 8.4% to $670 million, while shipments to Syria surged 183% to $134 million, reflecting rapidly changing demand patterns in neighboring markets.
MAIB Chairman Kutlu Karavelioglu said global industrial production remains under strain, despite a gradual easing of monetary tightening policies worldwide. While lower financing costs are supporting cautious optimism for 2026, he stressed that Türkiye must reinforce its competitive standing within European supply chains to secure long-term growth.
Karavelioglu also pointed to ongoing discussions around the EU’s proposed Industrial Acceleration Act, which aims to raise domestic production rates of key equipment to as much as 70% in certain sectors. He warned that Europe’s competitiveness strategy must strike a balance between protectionist measures and cost efficiency, arguing that Türkiye should be recognized as a strategic partner within this framework.
Competition from China has emerged as a growing challenge for the machinery sector. With Chinese machinery exports to the United States down 29% amid trade tensions, exporters have increasingly redirected shipments toward Europe and Türkiye. While China’s global machinery exports rose 8%, exports to Türkiye jumped 13.4%, intensifying pressure on local manufacturers.
China’s ability to generate a $1 trillion trade surplus by pivoting toward strategic markets has broadened concerns over competition, extending beyond pricing to issues such as technology transfer, data security, and industrial policy. In response, Karavelioglu outlined a dual strategy for Türkiye: maintaining deep integration with EU industrial and supply chains while defending fair competition, and strengthening innovation, research and development, strategic technologies, and domestic production capacity to build a more sustainable competitive balance with Chinese manufacturers.
