ICI Türkiye Export Climate Index posts 51.7 in September

• 08.10.2025
• News

The Istanbul Chamber of Industry Türkiye Manufacturing Export Climate Index posted 51.7 in September, down slightly from the 15-month high of 51.9 seen in August but still pointing to a modest strengthening in export demand conditions during the month. The current period of improvement now stretches to 21 months. 

In Germany, the largest single export market for Turkish manufacturers, business activity increased for the fourth month running in September. The US, meanwhile, saw output increase solidly again, despite the pace of expansion easing from August. Other key markets for Turkish exporters saw business activity fall, notably the UK and France. Meanwhile, Russia posted a solid fall in output, and one that was the most pronounced since October 2022. The rise in Saudi Arabia was the sharpest of all the economies covered by the report.

The Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) Türkiye Manufacturing Export Climate Index, which measures the operation conditions in the key export markets of the Turkish manufacturing sector, announced the results of the index for September 2025. The index figures above the 50.0 no-change mark signals an improvement in the export climate, while the figures below signals a deterioration. The Istanbul Chamber of Industry Türkiye Manufacturing Export Climate

Index posted 51.7 in September, down slightly from the 15-month high of 51.9 seen in August but still pointing to a modest strengthening in export demand conditions during the month. The current period of improvement now stretches to 21 months.

Increase in Germany for the fourth month in a row

Germany is the largest single export market for Turkish manufacturers, accounting for 8% of total exports. Here, business activity increased for the fourth month running in September. Although modest, the rate of growth was the fastest since May 2023, equal with that seen in May 2024. The US, meanwhile, saw output increase solidly again, despite the pace of expansion easing from August. Italy, Spain and the Netherlands also registered growth, the latter posting the fastest rise in manufacturing production for 16 months.

Other key markets for Turkish exporters saw business activity fall, however, notably the UK and France. Manufacturing production was down in Romania, albeit to the least extent in 16 months. Meanwhile, Russia posted a solid fall in output, and one that was the most pronounced since October 2022. 

Largest growth in Saudi Arabia 

The Middle East continued to be a source of growth in September.

The UAE posted a further sharp expansion of non-oil business activity, with increases also seen in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Lebanon. The rise in Saudi Arabia was the sharpest of all the economies covered by the report. The steepest reduction in output was recorded in

Taiwan, where manufacturing production decreased sharply and at a faster pace than in August. Solid falls were also seen in Brazil, Canada and Pakistan.

Commenting on the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Türkiye Manufacturing Export Climate Index, Andrew Harker, Economics Director, S&P Global Market Intelligence, said:

“It was particularly pleasing to see the pick-up in growth in Germany in September as that should help to result in more demand for Turkish manufactured goods given the importance of Germany as an export market. More widely, the climate continued to improve, although there were still some pockets of weakness in areas such as the UK and France which will hopefully dissipate over the course of the final quarter.”

You can find attached the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Türkiye Export Climate Index September 2025 reports.