Free zones play key role in exports, employment, and strategic manufacturing
Turkey’s free trade zones recorded a total trade volume of $13.82 billion in the first half of 2025, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from the Ministry of Trade.
As of June 2025, Turkey is home to 19 free trade zones, which have become major production hubs offering a wide range of incentives to both domestic and foreign investors. These include tax benefits, access to local and international markets, strategic location advantages, profit repatriation, and cost-effective infrastructure.
Free trade zones also contribute significantly to employment, with 92,978 people working in these areas as of the end of June.
Export-Driven Growth
In the January–June period of 2025, the breakdown of trade activity in the free zones is as follows:Exports from free zones to foreign markets accounted for approximately 45% of total trade volume, underscoring the zones’ growing role in Turkey’s external trade.
In comparison, the total trade volume in these zones stood at $27.69 billion in 2024, slightly down from $30.69 billion in 2023.
High Activity in Software, Shipbuilding, and Medical Sectors
Key industries operating within the free zones include software development, yacht and shipbuilding, ship repair and maintenance, medical devices, automotive, ready-to-wear textiles, leather products, and R&D activities. These sectors have shown strong momentum in the first half of the year, further reinforcing the zones’ contribution to Turkey’s economic diversification and industrial output.
With a strategic vision to attract high-value investments and expand exports, Turkey’s free zones continue to play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable economic growth.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök