Potential Risk of $2.84 Bn Loss in Indian Imports from Turkey, Including Apples and Marbles
The ‘Boycott Turkey’ initiative has resulted in a staggering 60% decline in the number of Indians traveling to Turkey, with traders suspending their imports of Turkish apples and marble. This movement, rooted in the ‘Nation First’ sentiment, has seen Indian merchants actively resisting Turkish products as support for the boycott grows.
The ongoing social media advocacy for the ‘Boycott Turkey’ campaign has considerably affected multiple businesses. Travel cancellations are on the rise, and there is an increasing backlash against the purchase of Turkish imports, particularly fruits and construction materials. The push for a boycott gained momentum after Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly supported Pakistan in response to the Operation Sindoor, which followed the Pahalgam attack that targeted civilians. Additionally, claims that Turkey provided drones, military supplies, and backing to Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict have intensified public backlash, reinforcing the ‘Nation First’ attitude across India.
To provide an overview of the trade relationship between India and Turkey and its potential impact on Turkish businesses:
India-Turkey Trade Overview
India maintains a trade surplus with Turkey, exporting more than it imports. According to Business Standard, from April to February of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Indian exports to Turkey amounted to $5.2 billion, a decline from $6.65 billion during the 2023-2024 period. This figure accounts for roughly 1.5% of India’s total exports, which are valued at $437 billion. In contrast, India’s imports from Turkey during the same timeframe stood at $2.84 billion, down from $3.78 billion in the previous year, representing approximately 0.5% of India’s total imports of $720 billion. The primary exports from India include mineral fuels, auto components, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and cotton, while imports from Turkey consist of mineral oil, gold, marble, apples, vegetables, cement, and chemicals, with Turkey being a major supplier of apples to India.
As per a press release from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in June 2022, Indian companies have a significant presence in Turkey’s automotive, pharmaceutical, and IT sectors, while Turkish enterprises are involved in India’s infrastructure and engineering sectors. Reports from the Times of India indicate that in April 2025, four Indian companies invested about $6 million in Turkey and Azerbaijan as part of a larger outbound foreign direct investment of $6.8 billion, primarily allocating funds to countries like the Netherlands.
India Turns Against Turkish Apples
Data from OEC indicates that India imported roughly $92.8 million worth of Turkish apples in 2023, out of a total apple and pear import value of around $376 million. ANI has reported that traders in Pune have opted to stop buying Turkish apples, choosing instead to source them from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has endorsed this initiative, stating, “I commend all traders who have chosen to boycott imports from Turkey. At this time, our focus should be on ‘nation first’.”
According to Business Today, this boycott is set to deeply affect Pune’s fruit market, where Turkish apples typically account for seasonal sales ranging between ₹1,000 crores and ₹1,200 crores. Additionally, the travel boycott has significantly impacted travel patterns since its announcement. The Udaipur Marble Processors Association, representing 125 firms in the marble industry, has called on the government to immediately halt imports of Turkish marble, citing national security concerns as more important than economic benefits. Reports suggest that Turkey supplies about 70% of India’s imported marble, translating to around 14 to 18 lakh tonnes annually, valued between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000 crores. Association President Kapil Surana has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reinforcing that “business should never take precedence over national interests.”
Turkey’s Loss of Indian Travelers
Members of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) have called for a nationwide travel boycott against Turkey. CAIT Secretary General and MP Praveen Khandelwal noted that such a travel boycott could severely impact the tourism sectors of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 2024, Turkey attracted around 62.2 million international visitors, including approximately 300,000 from India, generating $61.1 billion in tourism revenue. Indian tourists individually contributed around $291.6 million, and a boycott could result in a direct loss of this revenue. In light of national sentiments, bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan have fallen by 60% in just a week, with cancellations spiking by 250%. Online travel platforms such as EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip, and ClearMyTrip have advised against any non-essential trips to Turkey. EaseMyTrip stated, “Considering the terror incident in Pahalgam on April 22 and the war-like conditions between India and Pakistan, it is disheartening that Turkey and Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan.”
Despite these boycotts, Turkey’s President appears unfazed. He referred to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affectionately on social media, expressing support for the friendship between Turkey and Pakistan, which he described as one of the world’s rare gems of true brotherhood, emphasizing Turkey’s commitment to Pakistan’s stability.
India’s Historical Support for Turkey
While there has not been an official call for a halt in trade and business between India and Turkey, social media discussions reflect growing public sentiment against terrorism. Historically, despite Turkey’s alignment with Pakistan, India and Turkey have shared a cordial relationship. For instance, following the earthquakes that struck southern Turkey on February 6, 2023, India launched ‘Operation Dost’, one of the earliest humanitarian missions to reach the affected regions. Over 250 trained personnel, along with crucial equipment and relief supplies, were transported via six C-17 military aircraft, and they played an active role in rescue operations, providing essential medical care, including life-saving surgeries.
