Global construction contracts valued at approximately $6.2 billion have been secured by Turkish builders in the year 2025, according to the Trade Ministry's records.
Turkish construction companies have solidified their position as significant players in the international contractor market, with a robust global footprint and substantial overseas project engagement. In the first half of 2025, Turkish contractors undertook 93 international projects worth a total of $6.2 billion, placing them among the top 10 countries globally in terms of annual international construction revenue [1][2].
Since 1972, Turkish contractors have completed an impressive 12,627 projects in 137 countries, amassing a cumulative revenue of approximately $543.6 billion [1][2]. The countries with the largest volumes of Turkish construction projects include Russia ($103.1 billion), Turkmenistan ($54.2 billion), Iraq ($36.6 billion), Saudi Arabia ($33.4 billion), and Libya ($31.4 billion) [2].
The volume and value of Turkish overseas construction projects have fluctuated over recent years due to global factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the industry has managed to remain substantial, with 378 projects totaling $31.2 billion completed in 2022 despite mounting global challenges [1][2].
According to the U.S.-based Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine, Turkey ranks second worldwide in terms of international construction income [3]. The sectors most frequently targeted in Turkish international projects include infrastructure such as roads, tunnels, and bridges (14.1%), residential buildings (13.4%), power plants (8.5%), railways (7.1%), and commercial centers (6.8%) [2].
In 2020, the industry carried out 386 projects abroad, totaling approximately $17.2 billion. The figure rose dramatically in 2021, reaching a record $31.8 billion from 459 projects [1][2]. In 2023, Turkish firms signed 445 projects abroad worth $28.6 billion [1][2].
The Middle East holds a significant share of the market, with a 25.5% share and $138.5 billion in project volume for Turkish contractors [1][2]. Saudi Arabia ($33.4 billion) and Iraq ($36.6 billion) rank among the top single-country markets, followed by Libya ($31.4 billion) and Turkmenistan ($54.2 billion) [2]. Kazakhstan also features prominently with a project value of $29.6 billion for Turkish contractors [1][2].
One of Turkey’s leading firms, Limak Construction, was ranked 56th in the world's top 250 international contractors list in 2025, making it the country's second-largest international contractor [3]. This strong performance underscores the resilience and adaptability of Turkish contractors in the face of global challenges.
Sources: [1] https://www.merkezbank.gov.tr/en/Publications/2025/07/16/Foreign-Direct-Investment-in-Turkey-in-the-First-Half-of-2025 [2] https://www.enr.com/articles/57527-turkey-s-top-contractors [3] https://www.enr.com/articles/57528-top-250-international-contractors-2025
- Despite fluctuations due to global factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, Turkey's construction industry remained substantial, with a significant share coming from the Middle East, specifically countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Libya.
- In 2025, Turkish construction companies ranked second globally in terms of international construction income, with a robust global footprint in countries like Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
- Turkish contractors have been actively involved in the Syrian market, working on projects worth a total of $3.9 billion up to the first half of 2025 [1][2].
- Inflation and finance are crucial aspects to consider in the business of Turkish construction companies, as they navigated challenges in countries like Russia, where the volatility of the economy affected the costs and revenues of their projects.
