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The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off Istanbul’s coast on April 23 led to a nationwide surge in demand for emergency supplies via online platforms, driving up prices and prompting regulatory investigations into potential price gouging.
The earthquake and its aftershocks caused widespread anxiety among Istanbul residents, many of whom turned to e-commerce platforms to secure essential survival gear. According to data shared by Turkish online retail giant Hepsiburada, demand surged for critical items such as earthquake kits, tents, whistles, power banks, and thermal flasks.
Tent orders rose by 5.5 times compared to the previous day, while sleeping bag sales increased 2.5-fold. Earthquake bags ranked as the most searched item immediately following the quake. Hepsiburada’s review of more than 4,000 emergency-related listings revealed that while 95% of items saw no price change, 3% experienced increases and 2% saw reductions. Listings from vendors found to have unjustifiably raised prices were suspended from sale.
Amid growing public concern over price manipulation, both private sector platforms and public authorities have taken concrete steps to ensure fair pricing practices.
Hepsiburada announced that it had disabled listings for emergency goods sold by vendors that violated pricing standards. To further promote responsible pricing behavior, the platform introduced a support initiative offering a 50% commission discount for one month to sellers applying a discount of 10% or more on emergency items. Additionally, the company launched a consumer campaign running from April 28 to May 12, providing a 10% basket-wide discount on disaster preparedness products—fully funded by the platform itself.
On the regulatory front, Türkiye’s Trade Ministry confirmed on April 26 that it had initiated investigations into 236 businesses suspected of engaging in exploitative pricing practices in the aftermath of the earthquake. Following inspections of 1,079 products, officials identified numerous instances of irregular pricing. Businesses found guilty may face administrative fines of up to ₺1.4 million (approximately $360,000) per item.
Authorities reiterated their determination to protect consumers and maintain market stability in times of crisis, emphasizing that any attempt to capitalize on natural disasters through price manipulation would be met with legal consequences.
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