Agricultural Sector Grows 13.3% in Second Quarter
· Milliyet Ekonomi
While the Turkish economy grew 2.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, the agricultural sector, with a 13.3% increase, became the main driver of growth.
Agricultural Sector Tops Growth Charts
According to the second quarter 2026 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) results shared by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the Turkish economy recorded a growth of 2.3% on an annual basis. In the relevant period, the highest performance among all economic activity branches was observed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The agricultural sector recorded a strong growth of 13.3% compared to the same period of the previous year, becoming the main sector providing the most significant contribution to national income. With this result, the uninterrupted growth streak reached 24 quarters.
National Income and General Indicators
According to TurkStat data, GDP, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, increased by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. Gross Domestic Product, measured at current prices nationwide, rose by 36% to 19 trillion 869 billion lira, reaching the equivalent of 438.3 billion dollars. According to revised past data by the institution, the growth for 2025 was finalized at 3.7%, while the per capita national income for last year was determined to be 18,103 dollars.
Sectoral Distribution and Expenditure Balance
On the production side, following agriculture, information and communication activities increased by 8.6%, public and social services by 4%, and the industrial sector by 2.4%. While finance and real estate activities rose by 2.1%, trade, transportation, and accommodation services grew by 0.5%, and the construction sector contracted by 1.9%. On the expenditure side, household consumption increased by 3.5%, and gross fixed capital formation by 0.6%. Exports decreased by 3.4% and imports by 6.4%, while net foreign trade had a positive impact on growth.
Economic Management's Growth Assessment
Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz emphasized that the balanced growth path is being maintained. Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat stated that net foreign trade contributed 0.6 percentage points to growth. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır drew attention to the 2.4% increase in industry. Evaluating the growth figures, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek made the following statements:
"While private consumption grew 3.5% and investments grew 0.6%, net external demand made a positive contribution to growth."
Şimşek stated that the roadmap focused on productivity and price stability will continue in the new period.