ISTANBUL

The Turkish auto industry exported $3.06 billion last month, recording its highest-ever January performance, according to data from the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM).

Türkiye’s auto sector made a strong start to 2026, led by a gradual recovery in global demand and a rise in orders from Europe.

The Turkish auto industry exported $41.5 billion in 2025, the data showed.

In January 2026, auto exports rose 2.2% compared with the same period last year, and the sector’s share of total exports reached 17.4%.

The Turkish auto sector’s January exports were $3 billion in 2025, $2.8 billion in 2024, $2.7 billion in 2023, $2.23 billion in 2022, and $2.26 billion in 2021, according to TIM.

Germany received the highest Turkish auto exports in January 2026, totaling $490 million, followed by France with $311 million, Spain with $291.7 million, the United Kingdom with $283.3 million, and Italy with $267.9 million.

Exports to Poland rose the highest among all destinations, increasing by $58.7 million, followed by Italy with $36.5 million, Spain with $36.2 million, Germany with $28.2 million, and Austria with $19.3 million.

The Turkish auto sector exports totaled $177.5 million to Poland and $44.8 million to Austria in the same period.

The northwestern Turkish province of Kocaeli accounted for the highest auto exports in January 2026 with $828.6 million, followed by exports from Istanbul with $664.6 million, the northwestern city of Bursa and Sakarya with $588.5 million and $504.3 million, respectively, and lastly Ankara with $126.7 million.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim