Turkey Industry

Proposed changes to European Commission (EC) regulations governing the scrapping of ships look set to give Turkey’s ship-breaking and metal-processing industries a significant boost by shutting out rivals in Asia from part of this lucrative trade.

Turkey’s powerhouse automotive industry is expected to experience a downturn in 2014, as higher interest rates and a slowing economy cause domestic buyers to hit the brakes on spending. The outlook is likely to remain flat for the rest of the year, though solid exports may help offset some of the localised cooling in the market.

Despite an improved performance so far in 2013, Turkey’s automotive sector is expected to continue to face hurdles over the coming years. The economies in some of its main export markets are underperforming and new challenges are arising from other producers looking to launch a drive into Europe, potentially raising the level of competition at home and abroad.

The Turkish government is hoping talks aimed at ending the long-running conflict with Kurdish separatists will bring not only peace to the east and south-east of the country but also a wave of investments, with the industrial sector tipped to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Home to Europe’s seventh-largest pharmaceuticals sector and 16th largest worldwide, Turkey is aiming to continue expanding the industry as it welcomes the addition of new firms and investors. While a number of international companies have already set up shop in the country and several more are planning to follow suit, challenges remain for foreign entities, such as government pricing regulations and auditing demands.

These are exciting times for Turkish car manufacturers, who are riding a wave of growth thanks to a weak lira, increasing investment in research and development (R&D) and foreign firms’ boosting of local production. In a sign of the local industry’s growing maturity, one domestic investment firm is now the frontrunner in the takeover of an ailing European car manufacturer.