White Goods Sector Posts 7% Domestic Sales Drop and 19% Export Decline in H1 – Calls for Government Support

Turkey's white‑goods manufacturers reported a 7% decline in domestic sales and a 19% drop in exports for the first half of 2026, urging immediate government assistance to preserve their international competitiveness.

Performance Metrics Snapshot

■Domestic sales fell 7% year‑on‑year; exports slipped 19%.

■Total production reached 13,026,952 units, with June output declining to 2,033,470 units.

■Turkey holds 7% of global production, ranking first in Europe and second worldwide for white‑goods manufacturing.

■As of 2025, annual output stands at 29 million units, directly employing 60,000 people and indirectly supporting 600,000 jobs.

Cost and Regulatory Pressures

■Anti‑dumping investigations on flat‑steel inputs have imposed high tariffs, inflating production costs.

■GEKAP (Recycling Participation Fee) unit rates have risen 15‑17 times since 2020, while price inflation has been only 7 times.

■The sector bears an annual 3 billion TL GEKAP burden; total GEKAP collections from 2020‑2025 amount to roughly 250 million USD.

Strategic Perspectives and Policy Requests

■Alper Şengül (President, TÜRKBESD) stresses that export contraction stems from weakened competitiveness and additional costs from trade policies.

■Mehmet Yavuz (Vice‑President) highlights that anti‑dumping duties directly raise manufacturers' cost structures, undermining export competitiveness.

■Fatih Özkadı (Vice‑President) proposes a temporary suspension of GEKAP or at least a 50% reduction in unit fees.

■Semir Kuseyri (Board Member) urges the digitalisation of after‑sales services, recommending consumers use official brand websites and servis.gov.tr for authorized service access.

Expert Note (Zeynep Kaya): The downturn in sales and exports reflects not only softened demand but also escalating input costs and regulatory burdens. Anti‑dumping duties and the expanding GEKAP levy erode profit margins and blunt export competitiveness. In the short term, alleviating cost pressures and introducing export support mechanisms are vital to safeguard employment and production capacity. Over the longer horizon, prioritising R&D, digital transformation, and green‑technology investments will be essential for sustainable growth.