The “Türkiye’s Top 1000 Exporters 2025” survey released by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) provides a clear picture of where production and exports are concentrated within Türkiye’s grain processing industry. The findings show that Türkiye, which continues to lead the world in flour exports while maintaining its position as one of the world’s leading pasta exporters, now relies heavily on the Southeastern Anatolia cluster—particularly Gaziantep—as the driving force behind the sector’s export performance. An examination of the flour, pasta and biscuit companies included in the list reveals that this export success is far from accidental; rather, it is the outcome of a strong manufacturing ecosystem, strategic geography and decades of industrial expertise.

Published annually by the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the “Türkiye’s Top 1000 Exporters” survey has long been regarded as one of the country’s most important economic benchmarks. Beyond identifying the companies that generate the highest export revenues, the research also highlights which sectors, cities and industrial clusters shape Türkiye’s production landscape.

According to the 2025 survey, Türkiye reached a historic record with total exports of USD 395.9 billion, consisting of USD 273.3 billion in merchandise exports and USD 122.6 billion in services exports. The top 1,000 exporters alone accounted for USD 182.2 billion, representing a substantial share of the country’s total exports. Among these companies, 935 were merchandise exporters and 65 were service exporters, while average exports per company reached USD 182.2 million.

These figures clearly demonstrate that Türkiye’s export performance is increasingly being driven by large-scale companies with strong international competitiveness.

The Grain Processing Industry Among the Strategic Drivers of Exports

The grain industry—including flour, pasta, biscuits and other grain processing activities—was also among the major contributors to this export success.

The list includes many of the industry’s leading companies. In pasta production, Mutlu Makarnacılık, Oba Makarnacılık and Beşsan Makarna secured places among Türkiye’s top exporters. In the flour sector, prominent names such as Beşler Makarna Un İrmik, Ulusoy Un, Eksun Gıda, Ulaş Gıda, Hacışakıroğulları Un and Acarsan also appeared in the Top 1000 ranking.

On the biscuit side, Bifa Biscuit emerged as one of the sector’s most remarkable representatives.

What these companies have in common is not merely their impressive export figures. They also play a decisive role in maintaining Türkiye’s global leadership in flour exports and strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading pasta exporters.

The Real Story Begins with Gaziantep

Perhaps the most striking conclusion emerging from the list is unmistakable: Gaziantep has firmly established itself as the undisputed centre of Türkiye’s flour and pasta exports.

A significant share of the grain processing companies listed among the Top 1000 exporters is based in Gaziantep. The city’s export champions include Mutlu Makarnacılık, Oba Makarnacılık, Acarsan Makarna Un, Beşler Makarna Un İrmik and Beşsan Makarna. According to the TİM survey, Gaziantep ranks as Türkiye’s third-largest exporting city, with 60 companies included in the Top 1000 list. Following Istanbul (434 companies) and İzmir (86 companies), Gaziantep stands out as one of the country’s most concentrated export clusters when measured against the scale of its industrial base.

This clearly demonstrates that Gaziantep is not only an industrial city but also a globally competitive food manufacturing hub.

Success Built on More Than Entrepreneurship

Explaining Gaziantep’s export success solely through entrepreneurial spirit would not provide the full picture. The city’s current strength is built upon a highly integrated industrial ecosystem in which every component reinforces the others.

The foundations of this ecosystem include some of the world’s largest pasta production facilities, high-capacity flour mills, semolina production plants, advanced milling technologies, a well-developed packaging industry, machinery manufacturers, robust logistics infrastructure, close proximity to Middle Eastern and African markets, direct access to the ports of Mersin and İskenderun, and second- and third-generation family businesses with decades of export experience.

Taken together, these factors have transformed Gaziantep into one of the world’s leading grain processing clusters—not only for Türkiye but also on a global scale.

Türkiye’s Export Strength Rises Along a “Wheat Corridor”

The TİM list reveals another important reality. When the country’s leading flour, pasta, biscuit and bakery companies are mapped geographically, they form an impressive export corridor stretching from Samsun through Kırklareli, Istanbul and Konya, before extending to Gaziantep, Mardin and finally the export gateways of Mersin’s ports. Türkiye’s global leadership in flour exports and its strong position in pasta exports are, to a great extent, sustained by this production belt.

What Do the Companies Tell Us? Success Stories Behind the TİM Top 1000 List

A company-by-company review of TİM’s “Türkiye’s Top 1000 Exporters” survey reveals that the ranking represents far more than an export league table. It also reflects the evolving balance of power within Türkiye’s grain processing industry. An analysis of the companies operating in the flour, pasta and biscuit sectors highlights three key trends: the production dominance of Southeastern Anatolia, the steady growth of long-established family businesses, and export strategies increasingly focused on value-added products.

Mutlu Makarnacılık Retains Its Leading Position

Based in Gaziantep, Mutlu Makarnacılık ranked 111th in the 2025 list, making it the highest-ranked company in the pasta industry. The company also secured third place in the Cereals, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Related Products sector, once again confirming its position as one of Türkiye’s leading exporters of processed grain products—not only in pasta but across the broader grain processing industry.

Mutlu Makarnacılık’s success is built on far more than production capacity alone. By integrating flour, semolina and pasta production within a single manufacturing structure, the company effectively controls raw material costs, benefits from economies of scale and exports to more than one hundred countries. This integrated production model also makes the company more resilient against fluctuations in global markets.

Oba Makarnacılık Among the Top 200

Another standout performer on the list is Oba Makarnacılık. The Gaziantep-based company ranked 192nd overall and placed 10th within the cereals sector. Oba’s success represents one of the strongest examples of the transformation that Türkiye’s pasta industry has undergone in recent years. Rather than relying solely on its traditional markets, the company has expanded its export portfolio by diversifying its product range for Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Far East.

The fact that both Mutlu and Oba originate from the same city further reinforces Gaziantep’s growing global significance in pasta production.

Acarsan Stands Out with Its Integrated Production Model

Another key contributor to Gaziantep’s export strength is Acarsan Makarna Un Gıda, which ranked 491st in the TİM Top 1000 list. Operating across flour, pasta and agricultural products under one corporate structure, Acarsan has established a particularly strong distribution network throughout Africa and the Middle East. Unlike the traditional flour export model, Acarsan has developed an integrated food production strategy focused on higher value-added products, making it one of the sector’s noteworthy success stories.

Beşler Group Draws Attention with Two Companies

One of the most significant findings of the TİM ranking is that multiple companies operating under the same corporate group have achieved export success independently. Within Beşler Group, Beşler Makarna Un İrmik ranked 579th, maintaining its position among Türkiye’s leading grain processing companies thanks to its strong export network in flour and semolina production.

The group’s second company on the list, Beşsan Makarna, ranked 839th, enabling Beşler Group to maintain its presence in Türkiye’s Top 1000 exporters with two separate companies. This demonstrates that the group has adopted a diversified growth strategy, expanding through different companies across flour, semolina and pasta production rather than depending on a single product category.

Experienced Players in the Flour Industry

Ulaş Gıda

Long-established companies are equally prominent in the flour industry.

Based in Kırklareli, Ulaş Gıda Un Tekstil Nakliye ranked 384th on the list. The company is among the leading producers supplying high-quality Thracian wheat to international markets.

Ulusoy Un

One of Türkiye’s largest flour producers, Ulusoy Un, ranked 620th. Leveraging the logistical advantages of the Black Sea region, the company has developed a strong export network across the Black Sea basin, Africa and the Middle East.

Eksun Gıda

Eksun Gıda entered the ranking in 809th place. While widely recognised by consumers through its Sinangil brand, the company continues to strengthen its international presence through industrial flour production and export activities.

Hacışakıroğulları Un

Based in Mardin, Hacışakıroğulları Un ranked 936th. Thanks to substantial investments in modern milling facilities across Southeastern Anatolia in recent years, Mardin has emerged as one of Türkiye’s rising flour export centres. Its proximity to premium-quality wheat production areas, combined with easy access to neighbouring markets—particularly Iraq—continues to enhance the region’s export potential.

Bifa: A Rising Star in the Biscuit Industry

When Karaman is mentioned, biscuits are undoubtedly among the first industries that come to mind. In this field, Bifa Biscuit delivered one of the most remarkable performances in the TİM ranking. The company climbed from 917th place in 2024 to 738th place in 2025, advancing by nearly 180 positions. This remarkable progress reflects not only the company’s own performance but also Karaman’s growing competitiveness in biscuit and bakery product manufacturing.

Key Findings Emerging from the Ranking

A closer examination of the companies reveals four major trends:

1. Integrated production models are becoming increasingly dominant.

Most of the successful companies do not produce only flour or pasta. Instead, they manage the entire value chain—from wheat procurement and milling to semolina and pasta production—within a fully integrated structure.

2. Family-owned businesses remain the backbone of the industry.

Companies such as Mutlu, Oba, Beşler, Acarsan, Ulusoy and Bifa continue to stand out as long-established family businesses that have successfully transferred expertise and industrial know-how from one generation to the next.

3. Regional industrial clusters create competitive advantages.

The concentration of pasta and flour production in Gaziantep, biscuit manufacturing in Karaman, flour production in Samsun and modern milling investments in Mardin has created significant advantages in supply chains, skilled labour availability and logistics.

4. Scale has become a decisive factor in export competitiveness.

Most companies listed among Türkiye’s Top 1000 exporters operate high-capacity production facilities, possess strong financial structures and maintain extensive international distribution networks. This once again underlines the critical importance of economies of scale for competing successfully in global markets.

Gaziantep’s Rise Is No Coincidence—It Is the Result of a 40-Year Industrial Strategy

The Turkish Exporters Assembly’s “Türkiye’s Top 1000 Exporters 2025” survey does far more than rank the country’s most successful exporters. It also provides a compelling picture of how Türkiye’s grain processing industry has evolved over the past four decades.

A closer look at the list reveals one unmistakable reality: Türkiye’s flour and pasta exports have become increasingly concentrated in a handful of cities, with Gaziantep standing out as the undisputed centre of this industrial cluster.

It is no coincidence that leading companies such as Mutlu Makarnacılık, Oba Makarnacılık, Acarsan, Beşler and Beşsan all originate from the same city. Likewise, Karaman’s dominance in biscuits, Samsun’s strength in flour production and Mardin’s emergence as a centre for modern milling investments are all the outcomes of deliberate industrial development strategies. In many ways, the TİM data illustrates the emergence of a new industrial geography for Türkiye’s grain processing sector.

Why Is Gaziantep Ahead of Everyone Else?

Today, when flour and pasta production are discussed in Türkiye, Gaziantep is the first city that comes to mind. Its leadership, however, is based on far more than entrepreneurial culture alone. A combination of mutually reinforcing advantages has enabled the city to reach its current position.

1. At the Heart of the Raw Material Supply

Gaziantep is strategically located at the intersection of Southeastern Anatolia, Central Anatolia and the Çukurova region. Its proximity to Türkiye’s principal bread wheat and durum wheat production areas ensures a continuous and cost-efficient supply of raw materials throughout the year. This provides a particularly significant advantage for pasta manufacturers, as durum wheat—the essential raw material for pasta—is predominantly cultivated in Southeastern Anatolia.

2. A Distinct Logistics Advantage

The second major factor behind Gaziantep’s success is logistics. Situated between the ports of Mersin and İskenderun and close to both the Iraqi and Syrian borders, the city has naturally evolved into a major distribution hub. The logistical advantages offered by Mersin Port have been especially instrumental in supporting exports to Africa, accelerating the growth of both the flour and pasta industries. Today, pasta produced in Gaziantep reaches markets across Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf region and even South America.

3. The Iraq Factor

The Iraqi market has played a unique role in the growth of Türkiye’s flour and pasta industries. For many years, Iraq has remained one of the largest importers of Turkish flour, Turkish pasta and Turkish biscuits. Industry representatives consistently underline the strategic importance of this market. According to Nihat Uysallı, Chairman of the TİM Cereals Sector Board, Iraq remains an indispensable destination for flour, pasta and biscuit exports. Although the market has recently experienced a slowdown, he believes it will continue to retain its strategic importance over the medium and long term. Gaziantep’s geographical proximity to Iraq further strengthens this competitive advantage.

Not Just a City—A Comprehensive Manufacturing Ecosystem

Gaziantep’s success cannot be explained solely by the presence of large manufacturing plants. The city’s industrial structure consists of hundreds of interconnected businesses that complement one another throughout the value chain. These include milling machinery manufacturers, packaging companies, automation suppliers, flour ingredient producers, logistics providers, laboratory services and spare parts manufacturers.

This integrated ecosystem enables major manufacturers to manage much of their supply chain within the same city, significantly improving operational efficiency. Often referred to by industrialists as the “Gaziantep Model,” this ecosystem has become one of the city’s greatest competitive strengths.

Karaman Has Become Türkiye’s Biscuit Capital

If Gaziantep defines Türkiye’s pasta industry, Karaman plays an equally important role in biscuits. Today, many of Türkiye’s largest biscuit manufacturers operate in the city. Bifa’s rise of nearly 180 places in the TİM ranking is another clear indication that Karaman’s export performance continues to strengthen. The city’s industrial cluster encompasses flour milling, biscuits, wafers, chocolate production and packaging technologies, creating an ecosystem that has transformed Karaman into not only a manufacturing centre but also an important hub for research and development.

Samsun: The Black Sea’s Export Gateway

Representing Türkiye’s flour industry on the Black Sea coast, Samsun continues to distinguish itself through companies such as Ulusoy Un. The city’s greatest competitive advantage is its port. Export shipments to Russia, Romania, Bulgaria and North African markets via the Black Sea have established Samsun as one of Türkiye’s key export gateways. Moreover, the processing of imported wheat arriving through Black Sea trade routes before being re-exported further enhances the city’s strategic significance.

Thrace: Quiet but Highly Competitive

The strong performance of Ulaş Gıda, based in Kırklareli, illustrates how Thrace’s premium-quality bread wheat is successfully transformed into export value. With its high-protein wheat, proximity to European markets and modern milling facilities, Thrace continues to strengthen its position as one of Türkiye’s leading flour export regions.

Türkiye No Longer Competes City by City—It Competes Through Industrial Clusters

Perhaps this is the single most important conclusion to emerge from the TİM Top 1000 list. In the past, competition was primarily between individual companies. Today, it is increasingly industrial clusters that compete on the global stage. Gaziantep is no longer competing only with other Turkish manufacturers. It now faces the pasta clusters of Italy, Canada’s durum wheat industry, Egypt’s expanding milling sector and Kazakhstan’s flour producers. Competition is therefore no longer company versus company—it is ecosystem versus ecosystem. This is precisely where Türkiye’s greatest competitive advantage lies. Industrial clusters that have emerged in cities such as Gaziantep, Karaman, Samsun and Mardin successfully combine knowledge, integrated supply chains, logistics capabilities, machinery manufacturing and skilled human resources within the same ecosystem.

The TİM Top 1000 makes one fact unmistakably clear: Türkiye’s competitive advantage no longer lies solely in individual companies, but in integrated industrial ecosystems that combine production, technology, logistics and expertise. As these regional clusters continue to evolve, they will remain the driving force behind the country’s global leadership in grain processing and food exports.