2026 Import Regime Intermediate Changes and the New Road Map of Our Industrial Cities

What Does the Import Regime of 2026 Bring about the Intermediate Changes?

2026 Import Regime, updated with interim amendments published in the Official Gazette dated 11 July 2026 and numbered 33307. The regulations aim to protect domestic production, facilitate supplies of raw materials and intermediates, and update the import policies for the needs of the industry.

INOVAKADEMI These strategic regulations, which we closely follow as a consulting team, aim to optimize the exporter's raw materials costs while protecting the domestic manufacturer against unfair competition. In this period of rising protective walls in global markets, Turkey's macro step is a very strong shield for our industrialists.

In this article, we examine the effects of the 2026 Import Regime changes on our four major production centers (Iskenderun, Bursa, Sakarya and Gaziantep) that are reliant on Turkey's economy under a sectoral lens.

Reflections on the Iskenderun and Filter Sector

Iskenderun, which is the center of automotive filter manufacturing in Turkey, is the head of regions most directly and positively affected by new regime changes. In particular, the price pressure created in the domestic market by non-standard finished products of Far Eastern origin is offset by the high Additional Customs Tax (IGV) and surveillance value practices introduced. Positioning IGV rates between 15 and 30 percent in ready-made spare parts and filter groups will increase the dominance of Iskenderun domestic producers in the domestic market.

In the supply of raw materials, which is the sector's largest sensitivity, the vision that protects the industrialist is maintained. Low retention of tax burdens on inputs such as specially qualified automotive filter paper, which is not produced in our country, by exemption or suspension measures, makes manufacturing costs controllable. This two-way balance is strong enough to trigger new investments and employment in the region.

Automotive and Metal Sectors in Bursa and Sakarya

Bursa is a massive production base that has increased its exports by 7.1 percent over the same period last year in the first six months of 2026 to a level of $9 billion 144 million 719 thousand. The automotive industry, which has taken over the $4 billion 997 million 859 thousand lion share of this exports, will take a deep breath thanks to additional taxes on imported finished vehicle parts.

Similarly, Sakarya, whose cumulative exports are approaching $2.7 billion and whose export meets 143 percent, will benefit the maximum from this protection shield. Increasing imported product costs in automotive, iron-steel and machinery manufacturing will encourage the use of domestic components. For our Bursali and Sakarya exporters competing in the European market, keeping taxes low on raw materials items that cannot be substituted will pave the way for us to break prices in global markets.

Impacts on Textile and Carpet Sector in Gaziantep

Gaziantep industry is among the top six cities in Turkey with its multi-arm and flexible structure, ranging from machine carpet to textiles, food to plastic packaging. The new import regime has attracted a set of IGV rates between 15 percent and 30 percent to the cheap final product entry from Far East in the textile sectors where Gaziantep is the world leader.

In addition, keeping customs duties at reasonable levels in some special polymers and raw materials derivatives, which are the largest input of Gaziantep's massive plastic packaging and textile clusters, but whose domestic production is not yet available, has eased the manufacturer's operational burden. This solidifies the place of Gaziantep industrialists in the global supply chain.

New Road Map for Exporters

The 2026 Import Regime changes show that it is no longer possible to remain static in foreign trade. While customs walls and tax policies vary instantaneously, firms need to constantly update their raw materials supply chains and target market analysis. As İnovakademi, we continue to offer strategic solutions so that our companies can manage their operational costs accurately in this new era and turn protectionist measures to their advantage.

Changing customs Keeping a close eye on their tariffs, optimizing domestic input rates, and turning to tax-exempt groups of raw materials will be the key to sustainable trade in the year 2026 and beyond.