Türkiye's manufacturing capacity utilization rate declined in August 2026, according to data published by the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye. The unadjusted rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 73.5% from 73.9% in July. The seasonally adjusted rate also moved lower, dropping by 0.3 percentage points from 73.8% to 73.5%. The two series therefore reached the same level in August, although their monthly changes were slightly different.
Survey covers 2,012 manufacturing workplaces
The results were compiled from responses submitted by 2,012 workplaces operating in manufacturing as part of the central bank's Business Tendency Survey. The August survey was conducted between August 3 and August 14. Capacity utilization reflects businesses' assessments of how much of their available physical production capacity they are using. It does not directly measure the quantity of industrial output or company profitability.
Adjusted and unadjusted readings
The unadjusted series includes regular seasonal patterns that may affect production during particular months. The seasonally adjusted series reduces those recurring effects to make month-to-month comparisons easier. In August, both measures stood at 73.5%. The unadjusted reading declined by 0.4 percentage points, while the adjusted measure decreased by 0.3 percentage points.
The changes are expressed in percentage points rather than percentage changes. Moving from 73.9% to 73.5% is a decline of 0.4 percentage points. The same distinction applies to the adjusted series, which moved from 73.8% to 73.5%. Keeping rates and percentage-point changes separate helps prevent the monthly movement from being overstated or misunderstood.
Differences among manufacturing groups
Capacity utilization for investment goods was reported at 69.7%. The rate was 73.4% for intermediate goods, 72.4% for durable consumer goods and 73.6% for non-durable consumer goods. At a more detailed sector level, wood, wood products and cork recorded the highest rate at 83.9%. Leather and related products had the lowest rate at 58.1%.
These differences show that manufacturing branches did not use capacity at the same rate. A sector can operate well above or below the 73.5% industry-wide figure. The headline rate summarizes the broader manufacturing sample, but it should not be treated as the exact condition of every industry. Separate readings for investment, intermediate and consumer goods provide more detail about the composition of the result.
Limits of the monthly comparison
The August result is compared with July and reflects survey responses collected during a defined period. A one-month decline does not automatically predict the direction of the rest of the year. Available capacity and the share of that capacity being used are also different concepts. New investment can change total capacity, while the utilization rate measures use of the capacity that businesses report as available.
The 73.5% figure does not mean every manufacturer had exactly the same unused share. It is an aggregate result drawn from workplaces of different sizes and manufacturing branches. The sector breakdown is therefore essential context. It shows why the headline can coexist with much higher readings in some industries and a substantially lower rate in others.
How should the figures be interpreted?
The monthly decline indicates that surveyed manufacturers used a smaller share of their available capacity than in July. The data alone do not establish a lasting contraction in production, a definite change in demand or a particular future growth rate. Industrial production, orders, exports and cost indicators provide additional evidence and should be considered alongside the capacity measure.
The main August result is therefore narrow but clear: both the adjusted and unadjusted capacity utilization rates fell to 73.5%. The survey size and the wide range among sectors are important context for the headline. Future monthly releases will help show whether August's decline was temporary or part of a longer sequence.
