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Türkiye’s mining sector is aiming to surpass $10 billion in exports by 2026, as growing global demand for critical minerals drives new investment and strategic capacity increases, says Türkiye Miners Association Chairman, Mehmet Yilmaz.
The country reached $5.1 billion in mineral exports during the first ten months of 2025 and will need to expand output—particularly in metallic and industrial raw materials—to meet medium-term goals.
TMD Chairman Mehmet Yilmaz cited the World Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook, which projects continued demand growth for transition-critical metals like copper, nickel, and lithium. "Türkiye must pivot from exporting raw materials to shipping intermediate or final goods if we want to hit the $10 billion mark," he said, referring to energy-intensive materials essential for green technologies.
He added that the government’s Medium-Term Program (MTP), which focuses on export- and current-account-driven growth, positions mining at the center of industrial strategy in 2026. "Our real ambition is not just breaking $10 billion but stabilizing in the $11–12 billion range," Yilmaz noted, linking expectations to global interest rate cuts and industrial recovery trends.
Addressing gold imports, Yilmaz pointed to the government’s monthly 12-ton cap on unprocessed gold as a temporary measure tied to macroeconomic conditions. He argued that expanding local production is the only lasting solution, noting that the country hopes to return to its 2020 output peak of 42 tons with the help of new mines.
Türkiye plans to lift gold production gradually to 50–60 tons per year starting in 2026, according to Yilmaz. He said this would reduce pressure on import quotas and make the gold component of the current account more manageable.
Yilmaz also noted that rare earth elements (REEs)—used in technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and semiconductors—will continue to dominate the mining agenda due to intensifying geopolitical and supply chain concerns. In Türkiye, the centerpiece of this effort is a pilot project at the Beylikova field in the central province of Eskisehir.
The goal is to break ground on an industrial facility with a 570,000-ton annual capacity by 2026 and begin commercial production within two years. "Türkiye’s long-term objective is not just to export raw REEs, but to become a regional hub for manufacturing magnets, batteries, catalysts, and advanced alloys," Yilmaz said.
As Türkiye prepares for 2026, the industry is calling for clearer definitions of "public interest" in project approval processes, stronger permit guarantees, and aligned property rights to create a more predictable investment environment. Yilmaz said the latest amendments to the Mining Law increased state royalties while easing certain collateral requirements, but that the industry seeks a "balanced fiscal framework" that encourages investment while maintaining fair public returns.
Yilmaz stressed the need for a national strategy specifically for critical minerals and rare earth elements, saying the MTP’s goal of reducing import dependency will only be achievable with concrete regulations and a long-term mining roadmap.
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