Turkey received $6.848 billion in inward direct investment during January–August 2026, compared with $10.573 billion a year earlier, a decline of about 35%. For an operating business, the next question is what the measure includes and what it can establish about the market you plan to enter. CBRT, August 2026
What makes up August’s $719 million
August combined $596 million in equity inflows and $244 million in net real estate investment, less $20 million in disinvestment and a $101 million net debt outflow: $719 million in total. This is inward investment after the relevant deductions, not the balance of inward and outward direct investment. CBRT, Table 2
The entire figure cannot be described as money for new factories and offices. Before incorporating the news into a business plan, identify the component relevant to your project: equity participation, financing or real estate.
19 October update: outward flows exceeded inward flows
Over the 12 months to August 2026, residents' net acquisition of direct investment assets abroad was $10.143 billion, against $9.197 billion in net incurrence of direct investment liabilities in Türkiye. The outward excess was $946 million. This is a rolling year, distinct from January–August or August alone. CBRT, Table 3
Subtracting the reported real estate amounts ($2.398 billion abroad; $2.767 billion in Türkiye) gives $7.745 billion and $6.430 billion, an outward excess of $1.315 billion. Removing property helps isolate the comparison. It does not turn the remainder into spending on new factories.
CBRT methodology includes company formation, equity acquisitions and intercompany lending and repayments. Property belongs in the official FDI classification. The net balance alone cannot establish why investors made their decisions. CBRT methodology
21 October update: what direct investment withdrawals establish
CBRT Table 2 reports $5.600 billion in inward equity investment and $2.497 billion in disinvestment (“Tasfiye”) for January–August 2026, leaving $3.103 billion. Disinvestment in the same period of 2025 was $766 million. In 2026, June accounted for $1.254 billion of withdrawals; August accounted for $20 million. The monthly pattern is uneven. CBRT, Table 2
Dividing $2.497 billion by $5.600 billion gives approximately 44.6%. For the rolling 12 months, the corresponding figures were $3.402 billion and $7.803 billion, or about 43.6%. This compares withdrawals with equity inflows for a specified period. It does not measure the proportion of foreign-owned businesses that closed.
Direct investment can include acquisitions of stakes in existing businesses; the methodology's significant-influence criterion is 10% or more of voting power. A statistical withdrawal therefore cannot automatically be read as a factory closure. Establish the reason for a particular transaction from the parties' disclosures and records rather than the national aggregate.
The international investment position measures outstanding values
The CBRT table published on 20 October puts residents' external assets at $445.229 billion and liabilities to non-residents at $809.701 billion at end-August. The difference is minus $364.472 billion, rounded to minus $364.5 billion. End-July's net position was minus $398.735 billion, so the negative gap narrowed by approximately $34.3 billion. CBRT, International Investment Position, Table 1
Liabilities include equity and other instruments, as well as external debt. The figure does not mean that $364.5 billion left the country in August or must be repaid immediately. CBRT explains that position changes combine transactions with price and exchange-rate effects. CBRT methodology, section III
For a company, the measures answer different questions: flows describe transactions, while the position describes outstanding assets and liabilities. Neither establishes whether your customer can pay. Before supplying on credit, review its accounts, payment history, contractual due date and available credit limit. These additions and calculations were checked on 21 October 2026.
475 projects and $21.1 billion measure something else
Invest in Türkiye's 2025 report describes 475 greenfield projects with expected capital expenditure of $21.1 billion. Its category includes new facilities and expansions. Expected project CAPEX cannot be treated as recorded cross-border flows for that year or added to them. Türkiye FDI Projects Report 2025
Case: an equipment supplier considers a planned Turkish factory a potential customer. Before hiring a team for that order, check the site, financing, procurement stage and contracting entity. An announced project budget does not give the supplier revenue. Model both a delayed launch and no order.
Kazakhstan led August; Germany led the eight-month period
Kazakhstan supplied 33% of August equity inflows, followed by the US at 22%, the Netherlands at 19%, Germany at 13% and Spain at 4%. Germany led January–August with $1.2 billion. The periods differ, and these figures concern equity rather than total inward FDI. YASED bulletin
A monthly lead does not establish a wave of Kazakh companies relocating to Turkey. That would require evidence about the number and types of projects. Nor does a country table establish the citizenship of every ultimate owner.
For business development, the ranking is a starting point for investigating actual transactions, companies and plans. It cannot replace counterparty checks or evidence that customers want your product.
Information and communication took 45% of August equity inflows
Information and communication received $269 million, or 45% of August equity inflows. Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing accounted for 24%; computer, electrical, electronic and optical manufacturing took 5%. These are one-month shares. YASED
This concentration gives technology suppliers and professional-service providers a reason to investigate. An investment amount is not a procurement budget, however. Turning the announcement into a business opportunity requires identifying the recipient, project scope, implementation stage and route into procurement.
How to use the figures in a market-entry decision
The following is our practical interpretation, not a YASED forecast or a recommendation to purchase assets.
- Define an actual customer. Replace “enter a growing sector” with a specific problem you solve: product implementation, equipment supply, production servicing or operational support.
- Verify the project. Find a public announcement by the investor or investment recipient. Distinguish an announced transaction from a completed one, and an acquisition from a new production facility.
- Test demand before committing to overheads. Speak to prospective customers, understand procurement and supplier requirements, and start with a clearly scoped assessment or pilot.
- Design the operating arrangement. Identify the contracting company, where the work will be performed, who receives payment, and what your accountant and bank need to understand the transaction.
- Test financial resilience. Compare a first-contract scenario with one in which sales are delayed. Include company support, staffing and working capital.
The business takeaway
FDI statistics can help focus research. A decision to enter Turkey needs a validated customer, workable unit economics and an operating structure. A decline in the overall flow can coexist with activity in selected sectors.
If you run an established business and are considering Turkey, describe your task to RelocationTR: product, customers, parties and proposed operating arrangement. Start with what needs checking before launch.
Sources and timing
CBRT August data and methodology rechecked on 19 October 2026. YASED country and sector breakdown checked on 15 October 2026. Figures cover August and January–August 2026. The CBRT release and YASED Bulletin No. 129 are dated 13 October. Statistical data may be revised; percentages are rounded.
This article provides general information, not personalised investment advice.