July 2025

In July, the Turkish economy showed signs of stabilization. Inflation, which remains a major concern for both households and businesses, slightly declined to 33.5% over the past 12 months. This decrease was seen as an encouraging signal after several months of price pressure. In this context, the Central Bank met experts’ expectations by significantly cutting its policy rate by 300 basis points, bringing it down to 43%. This move marks the beginning of a monetary easing cycle aimed at boosting consumption and investment while supporting growth.

At the same time, Türkiye's exports reached a record high, surpassing the $25 billion threshold in a single month for the first time, while the trade deficit narrowed.

On the international front, Türkiye continues to strengthen its economic partnerships. Negotiations have been launched with the United Kingdom to modernize and expand their free trade agreement. The goal is to include new sectors, particularly services and digital, and to enhance trade between the two countries, which already exceeds £27 billion annually. Additionally, Türkiye is preparing to deliver natural gas to Syria through a new regional partnership with Azerbaijan, further demonstrating its ambition to play a more active role in the region’s energy landscape.

Our Director of Defense, Security and Nuclear Projects, Patrice MOYEUVRE, attended the IDEF 2025 exhibition in Istanbul, which provided an opportunity to explore the latest technological developments in Türkiye’s defense sector. The country’s defense industry is experiencing a remarkable rise, led by major players such as Aselsan, Roketsan, and Baykar (Bayraktar). Supported by sustained public investment, Türkiye is strengthening its position on the international stage, with clear ambitions to export defense solutions. This industrial momentum is now emerging as a true strategic lever—both economically and geopolitically.

However, this positive economic momentum was shaken by a series of large-scale wildfires, particularly in the touristic region of Izmir, but also in the provinces of Eskişehir, Bursa, and Karabük. The fires have claimed the lives of at least 34 people. Widespread material damage and mass evacuations have been reported in several affected areas. Hit by an intense heatwave and prolonged drought, Türkiye recorded a national heat record on Friday, July 25. These extreme conditions have led to the outbreak of more than 3,000 fires since the beginning of the summer.

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Advantis will be closed for the summer break from August 11 to 22 inclusive.

We will be back on Monday, August 25.

Wishing you a restful and sunny summer.

Economic & business news from Türkiye

Türkiye strengthens its gas drilling fleet

The Turkish national oil and gas company TPAO has just acquired two seventh-generation drilling vessels – West Dorado and West Draco – from Norwegian company Eldorado Drilling, for an estimated amount of USD 490 million. These state-of-the-art units, capable of drilling up to 12,000 meters deep, will complement an existing fleet of four drilling vessels (Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, Abdülhamid Han) and two seismic research ships (Oruç Reis, Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa).

Objective: to increase exploration capacity in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

With this acquisition, Türkiye becomes the fourth country in the world in terms of the number of domestically owned deepwater drilling vessels. At the same time, TPAO is expanding its international partnerships, notably in Libya, where it holds seismic exploration rights over more than 10,000 km². The country thus continues to strengthen both its energy autonomy and strategic presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This energy build-up is part of a clear strategy to secure supply sources, capitalize on national resources, and expand regional influence.

Source: Maritime Executive, July 21, 2025

Strategic investment by Sweden’s Consilium Safety

Swedish group Consilium Safety Group, a global player in fire safety systems, is continuing its international expansion by entering the Turkish market through the acquisition of Ares Marine.

This transaction marks a new step in the group’s growth strategy—already active in 29 countries with over 50 offices worldwide—by strengthening its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Consilium will now be able to offer localized maintenance, modernization, and after-sales support services to Turkish shipowners.

Based in Tuzla, at the heart of Istanbul’s naval corridor, Ares Marine was founded in 1988 and restructured in 2016. The company specializes in fire and gas detection, as well as navigation and cargo control systems. Its integration will allow Consilium to bring its technological expertise closer to Türkiye’s #shipyards in a rapidly growing sector.

According to Philip Isell Lind af Hageby, CEO of Consilium, this acquisition reaffirms the group’s long-term commitment to supporting regional operators and shipyards. Mustafa Ozler, co-founder of Ares Marine, sees in this partnership an opportunity to scale up and take part in major international maritime projects.

A strategic alliance in support of innovation and development in the naval industry.

Source: N24, July 8, 2025

U.S. giant Aptar acquires Türkiye’s 7M

As part of its international expansion strategy, U.S.-based Aptar, a global leader in dosing, dispensing, and protection technologies for the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors, has announced the acquisition of 7M, a Turkish company with 34 years of experience in manufacturing aerosol valves, actuators, sprays, and lotion pumps.

This deal marks Aptar’s strategic entry into Türkiye, a market seen as both attractive and fast-growing, ideally located to serve neighboring regions. Leveraging 7M’s industrial capacity and expertise, Aptar aims to strengthen its offering across the EMEA region, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

According to Xavier Susterac, President of Aptar Beauty EMEA, Türkiye was chosen over China due to its strategic geographic position, the rapid growth of regional markets, and the vitality of domestic consumption.

With over 13,000 employees in 18 countries and annual revenues of USD 3.5 billion, Aptar continues to expand its global industrial footprint and now reinforces its presence in the Turkish market—a key strategic hub between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Source: Dünya, June 24, 2025

Italy’s Fatro acquires stake in Türkiye’s Güneşli Aşı

Italian group Fatro, one of Europe’s leading players in animal health, continues its international expansion by acquiring 51% of the capital of Turkish company Güneşli Aşı. Founded in 1997 in Istanbul, Güneşli Aşı specializes in the import, production, and distribution of veterinary products, offering both local and international references.

This strategic partnership enables the Italian group to integrate a well-established local player led by Burçak Emre Zorlu, an entrepreneur also recognized for his involvement in the sports world, notably with the Galatasaray football club.

Founded in 1947 in Forlì, Italy, Fatro develops, produces, and markets a wide range of medications, vaccines, and nutritional solutions for all animal species—from pets to livestock. The group operates two major production sites in Italy: one in Bologna (85,000 m²) serving all species, and another in Brescia dedicated to poultry vaccines. Active in more than 90 countries, the company has expanded globally through an ambitious strategy of acquisitions and partnerships. Fatro currently employs nearly 1,000 people and owns subsidiaries in Spain, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, Argentina, and India.

This acquisition further strengthens Fatro’s position on the global stage while generating growth synergies within Türkiye’s animal health market.

Source: Dünya, July 24, 2025

Finland’s Grundium enters the Turkish market

Finnish digital pathology imaging specialist Grundium is continuing its international expansion by announcing an exclusive distribution agreement with Neogen Diagnostik, a well-established medical sector player based in Istanbul.

Through this partnership, Neogen becomes the official distributor of all Grundium products in Türkiye, including the Ocus20 and Ocus40 scanners, as well as the brand-new Ocus M series. Compact, precise, user-friendly, and remotely accessible, these scanners are ideally suited to meet the growing demand for digital pathology and telepathology solutions in Türkiye.

With its extensive network and proven expertise, Neogen Diagnostik will play a key role in supporting the rollout of Grundium’s solutions in Türkiye’s rapidly modernizing healthcare sector. It will also help democratize the use of Grundium scanners in hospitals, laboratories, and clinics across the country.

“We see strong potential in the Turkish market, driven by a robust healthcare infrastructure and high demand for digital solutions.” Davide D’Incau, Sales Director at Grundium.

“These scanners are perfectly suited to the Turkish market and will transform how digital pathology is practiced.” Abdulmecit Arikan, CEO of Neogen Diagnostik.

This market entry highlights the growing appeal of Türkiye’s healthcare sector and its openness to cutting-edge medical technologies, at a time when the digitalization of healthcare services is becoming a strategic priority.

Source: Grundium Press Release, July 2025

Strategic acquisition of Notice by Spain’s Applus+

Spanish company Applus+ Laboratories, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, has announced the acquisition of Turkish company Notice, a notified body (NB 2764) specializing in medical device conformity assessment. Founded in 2016 and based in Istanbul, Notice also has operations in Slovenia.

With this transaction, Applus+ strengthens its position in the medical sector by integrating key regulatory expertise into its global network of laboratories. The group can now offer a unique integrated solution to its clients: product testing, MDR certification, and quality management system certification under ISO 13485. This one-stop-shop offering addresses the growing needs of manufacturers facing increasingly complex and stringent regulatory requirements, particularly during the transition from the MDD directive to the new MDR regulation in Europe.

With over 28,000 professionals and a presence in 65 countries—with laboratories across Europe, North America, and Asia—Applus+ already has advanced capabilities in biomechanical, chemical (biocompatibility), packaging, cybersecurity, and electrical safety testing. The integration of Notice will allow these services to be combined with direct regulatory certification capabilities, facilitating access to major international markets.

This strategic acquisition aligns with Applus+’s ambition to support innovation in medical technologies while ensuring patient safety and device compliance in an increasingly demanding global regulatory environment.

Source: Applus+ Press Release, July 17, 2025

Renault to manufacture Boreal SUV in Bursa

As part of its international expansion strategy, Renault Group is strengthening its industrial footprint in Türkiye by selecting its Bursa plant as the production site for the new C-segment Boreal SUV.

Scheduled for commercial launch in 2026, this model will be exported to over 50 markets across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean basin.

The project is part of a EUR 400 million investment, announced at the end of 2023, under the “Renault International Game Plan 2024–2027”, which aims to establish Türkiye as a major manufacturing and export hub for the brand.

Following the Duster, the Boreal will be the second SUV produced in Bursa. Equipped with a new-generation internal combustion engine, a dual-clutch EDC transmission, and 24 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), the model reflects Renault’s ambition to deliver high-value vehicles.

By 2027, four new models will be produced in Bursa, positioning Türkiye as one of Renault’s five global hubs, alongside India, Brazil, South Korea, and North Africa.

Founded in 1971, the Oyak Renault plant in Bursa is one of the group’s largest production centers. It currently manufactures the Clio 5 and Clio 5 E-Tech plug-in hybrid. With an annual production capacity of 390,000 vehicles, the plant reaffirms its central role in Renault’s global strategy.

Source: Daily Sabah, July 11, 2025

Honda launches new motorcycle factory in Türkiye

Honda Türkiye has announced a strategic investment of EUR 16.5 million to establish a new motorcycle factory in Aliağa, located in the city of Izmir.

Scheduled to begin production in mid-2026, the facility will cover an area of 100,000 m² and will start with an annual capacity of 100,000 units, aiming to reach 200,000 units per year in the medium term. The project is also expected to create around 300 jobs in the region.

This decision is part of Honda’s strategy to respond to the continued growth of the motorcycle market in Türkiye and to support its global sales. In 2023, Honda Türkiye had already set a record with 162,000 motorcycles sold on the Turkish market.

Operating in Türkiye since 1992, Honda Türkiye was long active in automobile assembly before shifting its focus to the motorcycle market. Benefiting from steady growth in the local market, the company has established itself as a key player, regularly recognized for its technological innovations in the two-wheeler sector. This new industrial phase marks a return to local production and further illustrates the company’s long-term commitment to Türkiye.

Source: Dünya, August 1, 2025

Saf-Holland strengthens its industrial presence

Global player SAF-HOLLAND, specializing in axle systems and chassis components for commercial vehicles, continues its growth in Türkiye with the opening of a new production line for Haldex ModulT brake calipers at its Düzce facility.

Objective: to respond more quickly to local and regional demand for premium braking solutions while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Present in Düzce since 2016, the company has grown from 23 to approximately 100 employees and reached a symbolic milestone in December 2023 with the production of 250,000 SAF axles locally.

The new production line will be installed in a second building of 7,500 m², designed according to the most modern manufacturing standards. This will bring new industrial capacity and job creation.

This investment by the German-American giant demonstrates its industrial commitment and confidence in the Turkish market and its regional opportunities.

Source: Press Portal, July 18, 2025