Antalya Serbest Bölge, yılın ilk 4 ayında ulaştığı ticaret hacmi, ihracat ağırlıklı üretim yapısı, yat sektöründeki kümelenme ve yüksek katma değerli üretimle ekonomiye katkısını sürdürdü. Antalya Serbest Bölge A.Ş. (ASBAŞ) Genel Müdürü Zeki Gürses, bölgenin 2026 yılının ilk 4 ayındaki ticaret hacmi, istihdam rakamları, ihracat performansı, yat üretimindeki büyüme ve altyapı yatırımlarının etkilerine ilişkin değerlendirmelerde bulundu.
Antalya Serbest Bölge’de yat üretiminin yanı sıra medikal, elektrik ve elektronik sektörlerinin de öne çıktığını belirten Gürses, bölgenin hem ticaret hacmi hem de istihdam açısından Antalya ve Türkiye ekonomisi için önemli bir üretim merkezi konumunda olduğunu söyledi.
“İlk 4 aydaki ticaret hacmi 408 milyon dolar olarak gerçekleşti”
Antalya Serbest Bölge’nin yılın ilk 4 ayında 408 milyon dolarlık ticaret hacmine ulaştığını belirten ASBAŞ Genel Müdürü Zeki Gürses, geçen yıl aynı dönemde bu rakamın 395 milyon dolar olduğunu ifade etti. Gürses, “Antalya Serbest Bölge’nin ilk 4 aydaki ticaret hacmi 408 milyon dolar olarak gerçekleşti. Geçen seneki rakam 395 milyon dolardı. Bu da yüzde 3’lük bir artış gerçekleştiğini gösteriyor” dedi.
Nisan sonu itibarıyla bölgede 79 firmanın faaliyet gösterdiğini kaydeden Gürses, yat sektörünün bölgede güçlü bir kümelenme oluşturduğunu vurguladı. Gürses, “Nisan sonu itibarıyla 79 firmamız var. Ağırlıklı sektörümüz yat sektörü. Bu alanda bir kümelenme var ve 44 firmamız faaliyet gösteriyor. Bunun yanı sıra ticaret hacmi ve istihdam anlamında çok büyük katkı sağlayan diğer sektörlerimiz de var. 4 medikal, 13 elektronik firmamız bulunuyor. Bu 3 sektör, Antalya Serbest Bölge’ye gerek istihdam gerekse ticaret hacmi olarak ciddi anlamda katkı sağlayan, katma değerli üretim yapan firmalarımızdan oluşuyor” ifadelerini kullandı.
Bölgede yaklaşık 7 bin 200 kişinin çalıştığını aktaran Gürses, yat sektöründe dönemsel olarak dışarıdan desteklenen personelle birlikte bu sayının daha da yükseldiğini belirterek, “Şu anda Antalya Serbest Bölge’de toplam çalışan sayısı 7 bin 200 civarında. Geçici süreyle dışarıdan desteklenen personelleri de dahil ettiğimizde, çünkü yat sektörüne dönemsel olarak Antalya’dan da istihdam katkısı sağlanıyor, aylık ortalama 10 binin üzerinde olduğunu rahatlıkla ifade edebilirim” diye konuştu.
“İhracatın ithalatı karşılama oranı yüzde 192”
Antalya Serbest Bölge’nin en dikkat çeken yönlerinden birinin ihracat ağırlıklı üretim yapısı olduğunu ifade eden Gürses, Nisan ayı itibarıyla ihracatın ithalatı karşılama oranının yüzde 192’ye ulaştığını söyledi. Gürses, “Antalya Serbest Bölge’nin en önemli özelliklerinden biri ihracat ağırlıklı olması. Bölgemizin ihracatın ithalatı karşılama oranı Nisan ayı itibarıyla yüzde 192 olarak gerçekleşti. Son dönemde ülkemizde ihracat anlamında rakamsal olarak bir gerileme söz konusu. Son açıklanan rakamlarla ülkemizin ihracatın ithalatı karşılama oranı yüzde 70’in altına kadar düştü. Fakat Antalya Serbest Bölge’de bunun tam tersi bir eğilim var. Bu da burada ne kadar katma değerli üretim yapıldığının ve yurt dışına ihracat gerçekleştirildiğinin bir göstergesi” ifadelerini kullandı.
Antalya’nın ihracatının yüzde 27’si serbest bölgeden
Antalya Serbest Bölge’nin tek başına Antalya ihracatında önemli bir paya sahip olduğuna dikkat çeken Gürses, “Bir mukayese yapacak olursak, Antalya ilinin toplam ihracatının yüzde 27’si oranındaki ihracat rakamını Antalya Serbest Bölge karşılıyor.
“When we look at the ranking across Turkey, if Antalya Free Zone were evaluated as a province, it would rank 28th,” he said.
“The yachts produced here are sold all over the world.”
Emphasizing that the yacht sector has strategic importance for the region due to its foreign currency-earning activities, contribution to sub-sectors, and provision of qualified employment, Gürses stated that a strong cluster has formed in yacht production in the Antalya Free Zone. Gürses said, “The yacht sector is very important. Because manufacturing and production provide significant added value. It makes a very serious contribution due to carrying out foreign currency-earning activities in terms of sales, supporting many sub-sectors, and employing qualified personnel. That is why a cluster has formed here.”
Stating that the region has trade relations with over 80 countries, Gürses said that exports are made to different parts of the world, especially in the yacht sector. Noting that the trade volume with European Union countries is over 50 percent and that they also work with OECD countries, including America, Gürses said, “The yachts produced here are sold all over the world. They are sold all over the world based on special orders.”
“Yacht manufacturing can be done up to 90 meters.”
Stating that the infrastructure investments of approximately 17 million dollars completed in 2021 in the Antalya Free Zone have seriously increased the region’s capacity, Gürses said that with these investments, the region has become the most capable yacht production and maintenance-repair center in the Eastern Mediterranean. Gürses used the following expressions: “With the infrastructure investments we completed in 2021, we have the opportunity to serve yachts up to 2,000 tons here. We have now become the most capable yacht production and maintenance-repair center in the Eastern Mediterranean. Thanks to this, the lengths of the yachts coming here have increased. While yacht manufacturing could be done up to 25-30 meters in the past, now yacht manufacturing can be done up to 90 meters.”
12 boats delivered in the first 4 months
Stating that 832 boats have been manufactured and delivered to their owners in the Antalya Free Zone by the end of 2025, Gürses said that 12 more boats were completed and delivered in the first 4 months of the year. Gürses said, “In total, the number of yachts produced to date has reached 844. While the average length of yachts produced in the Antalya Free Zone between 2000 and 2025 was 18 meters, the average length of yachts produced in the first 4 months of this year increased to 30 meters. Manufacturing of larger yachts also continues.”
Stating that the final outfitting and sea trials of yachts measuring 50 and 60 meters in length are being carried out at the quay before delivery, Gürses noted that rapid development is also occurring in maintenance and repair activities.
“The capacity of our quays is full.”
Stating that after the infrastructure investments, large yachts from the Mediterranean and the Middle East have shown intense interest in the Antalya Free Zone for maintenance and repair, Gürses announced that the maintenance and repair of an 80-meter boat was completed and sent off in recent months, and that another 74-meter boat has requested to come. Stating that the capacity is full despite having approximately 400 meters of yacht berthing quay, Gürses said, “Even though we have completed our quay investments, even though we have approximately 400 meters of yacht berthing quay, the capacity of our quays is currently full. With the permission of our harbor masters, we have started using our loading-unloading quays also as yacht berthing quays.
“We have seriously started to see the return on our investments in the free zone,” he said.
Stating that the number of boats coming for maintenance and repair in the Antalya Free Zone has reached 248 so far, Gürses said, “We have delivered 218 of them, and maintenance and repair activities for 30 of them are currently ongoing. So far, a trade volume of 144 million dollars has been realized from these activities.”
“Each yacht produced brings in a new customer”
Stating that with the investments made in the region, services can be provided for yachts up to 90 meters and 2,000 tons, Gürses said that the 560-ton travel lift and modern yacht mooring investments have strengthened the companies’ hand. Gürses stated that thanks to the infrastructure investments, the companies inside can receive larger orders, and said, “We have realized the investment of the most acceptable safe system in the world right now in the Antalya Free Zone. Together with our total dock investments, we had made an investment of approximately 17 million dollars. Here, we can serve yachts up to 90 meters and 2,000 tons. Additionally, we have a 560-ton travel lift. In this sense, our hand has become very strong.”
Noting that the yachts produced in the Antalya Free Zone are exhibited at important world fairs such as Monaco, Cannes and Florida, Gürses said, “The yachts produced here are exhibited at important world fairs. They take part in fairs in Monaco, Cannes, and Florida. Each yacht produced brings in a new customer. Because the yachts produced with the labor of Turkish workers are really of very high quality. The increase in the number of these yachts at sea has also made this place a center of attraction.”
Electronics and medical sectors also stand out
Stating that besides the yacht sector, the electrical-electronics and medical sectors also stand out in terms of high value-added production in the Antalya Free Zone, Gürses said the number of companies operating in the electronics sector has increased to 13. Drawing attention to the high export value per kilogram of the electronics sector, Gürses said, “The number in the electrical and electronics sector has reached 13. This is gratifying for us. Because its added value is extremely high. There are products whose kilogram value reaches 7-8 thousand dollars, sometimes up to 10 thousand dollars. This contributes significantly to our country’s economy.”
Stating that these sectors are also important in terms of technology transfer and qualified employment, Gürses said that university youth find the opportunity to work in the region. Stating that the medical sector also contributes especially to women’s employment, Gürses said, “The medical sector also provides a very important contribution in terms of bringing women into employment. It provides approximately 80 percent women’s employment. Likewise, it is important in terms of technology transfer. These 3 sectors are really very important for us. We are working for them to develop further.”
58-meter Amanda to be delivered in June
The 58-meter superyacht named “Amanda”, built by Nebula Shipyard operating in the Antalya Free Zone, also reveals the point reached by the yacht production capacity in the region. Nebula Yacht Board Chairman Serkan Sürer gave information about the technical specifications, construction process and delivery schedule of Amanda, which was sold to an Italian customer for tens of millions of dollars. Stating that Amanda is a 58-meter superyacht, Sürer said, “Amanda is a 58-meter superyacht produced by Nebula Shipyard. Its designer is the world-famous Espen Oeino. The construction of Amanda took 3 years. It has a volume of 1,300 gross tons. It has a diesel-electric propulsion system, which is an innovative propulsion system.
“On the boat, diesel generators produce electricity, and the propulsion system operates on our electric propellers,” he said.
Stating that the yacht has 7 guest cabins and a crew capacity of 15, Sürer said that Amanda is designed to offer 14 guests a comfortable sea vacation. Sürer said, “Our boat has 7 guest cabins and crew cabins for 15 crew members. This means a guest capacity of 14 people. It also has a crew capacity of 15 people.”
“It has a system that can stay stationary without dropping anchor”
Stating that Amanda draws attention with its advanced technological equipment, Sürer explained that the superyacht can stay stationary without dropping anchor thanks to its dynamic positioning system. Sürer said, “Our boat also has a positioning system, which we call dynamic positioning, that can stay stationary without dropping anchor. This is a system created by the synchronized operation of the bow thruster and stern thrusters.”
Stating that Amanda has 6 decks and that the boat includes hotel-standard equipment such as an elevator, service kitchens, and a main kitchen, Sürer said, “It has a quite large volume. Since it has 6 decks, it has an elevator. There are service kitchens on each deck, and the main kitchen on the lowest deck. Everything needed for a comfortable sea vacation is available on our boat at hotel standards. Since there is a wide variety of personnel, from the main engine room to the kitchen, from service to cleaning, from deck cleaning to collecting ropes, there is a serious need for personnel. Since comfort comes before everything else on a luxury yacht, all necessary equipment, gear, and personnel are available on the boat.”
“We can say that Amanda will be delivered in June 2026”
Stating that Amanda has been launched and the pre-delivery testing process has begun, Sürer announced that the superyacht is planned to be delivered to its owner in June 2026. Sürer said, “Our boat has actually been launched. The first stage nearing completion in the construction phase of boats is launching. After launching, the systems that operate with seawater need to be tested. This requires a period of 2-3 months. All systems are tested. After that, sea trials, which we call sea testing, are conducted, and after all reports are obtained, it is delivered to its owner. We can say that Amanda will be delivered in June 2026.”
