The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) published the Balance of Payments Statistics for the period September 2026. According to data, the current account had a surplus of 2 billion 720 million dollars in September. The current account surplus, which was 4.05 billion dollars in August, decreased in one month.
A surplus of 7 billion 342 million dollars was recorded in the current account excluding gold and energy in September. Balance of payments defined foreign trade deficit was 3 billion 642 million dollars in the same period.
According to annual data, the current account deficit reached 39.2 billion dollars. In the same period, the foreign trade deficit was 76.8 billion dollars, while the services balance had a surplus of 66.1 billion dollars. The primary income balance recorded a deficit of $26.3 billion, while the secondary income balance recorded a deficit of $2.1 billion.
SERVICE REVENUES EXCEEDED 9 BILLION DOLLARS
Net inflows from services balance amounted to 9 billion 14 million dollars in September.
During this period, a net income of 3 billion 88 million dollars was obtained from transportation services and 6 billion 573 million dollars from travel items.
CRYPTO ASSET TRANSACTIONS ARE IN THE STATISTICS FOR THE FIRST TIME
CBRT implemented a new application in balance of payments statistics. Crypto asset transactions were included in statistics for the first time through data provided by the Central Registry Agency (MKK).
According to the data, persons residing in Türkiye sold crypto assets worth $21 million on a net basis in September, which did not create any counter liabilities. In the same period, $49 million worth of stablecoins were purchased.
859 MILLION DOLLARS NET INPUT IN DIRECT INVESTMENTS
Net inflows from direct investments in the financial account amounted to 859 million dollars in September.
While the direct investments of non-residents in Türkiye increased by 1 billion 508 million dollars, the direct investments of domestic residents abroad increased by 649 million dollars.
In real estate investments, domestic residents made 183 million dollars of purchases abroad. Net real estate purchases of non-residents in Türkiye were recorded as 290 million dollars.
NET OUTPUT OF 7.7 BILLION DOLLARS IN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
In September, there was a net outflow of 7 billion 733 million dollars in portfolio investments.
Non-residents made net sales of 5 billion 859 million dollars in the stock and investment fund markets and 495 million dollars in the government domestic debt securities (GDS) market.
In bond issues abroad, banks made a net purchase of 780 million dollars, the General Government made a net purchase of 662 million dollars, and other sectors made a net purchase of 32 million dollars.
While banks made a net repayment of 820 million dollars in loans from abroad, the General Government used a net loan of 4 million dollars and other sectors used a net loan of 1 billion 861 million dollars.
DEPOSITS OF FOREIGN BANKS DECREASED BY 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS
In the other investments item, there was also a decrease in deposits of foreign banks in Türkiye.
While deposits in Turkish lira increased by a net of 782 million dollars, deposits in foreign currency decreased by a net of 2 billion 272 million dollars. Thus, a total net decrease of 1 billion 490 million dollars was recorded in the deposits in question.
According to CBRT data, there was a net decrease of 10 billion 13 million dollars in official reserves in September.
THE DECREASE IN RESERVES IN FINANCING THE CURRENT DEFICIT DRAWED ATTENTION
Net direct investments contributed 0.2 billion dollars and loans contributed 52.7 billion dollars in financing the annualized current account deficit.
In contrast, financial derivatives made a negative contribution of $4.9 billion, net portfolio investments of $4.6 billion, commercial loans of $1.9 billion, and net cash and deposits of $14.6 billion.
