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Chinese technology companies are increasingly seeking to relocate their production operations to Türkiye in response to U.S. tariff hikes, according to Aydin Mistacoglu, chairman of AGM, a subsidiary of Mistacoglu Holding and the local producer of Chinese smartphone brand Oppo.
U.S. firms currently manufacturing in China are also exploring production partnerships in Türkiye, he added.
"On one hand, Chinese tech firms are knocking on our doors. On the other hand, several U.S. companies that currently manufacture in China are now researching to assess the feasibility of production cooperation in Türkiye.
In this context, they are engaging in discussions with us," Mistacoglu said in an interview with the business-focused ekonomim.com on Monday.
"If we can navigate this shift strategically, it could present a major opportunity for Türkiye. Our local technology sector is well-positioned to take advantage of it."
Türkiye has emerged as one of the least-affected countries by the reciprocal U.S. tariffs introduced on April 2 by former President Donald Trump, which began at a minimum rate of 10%.
In contrast, China was initially hit with tariffs of 34%, which eventually rose to 145% because of tit-for-tat measures.
Mistacoglu’s comments followed an April 10 disclosure by Mobiltel, one of Mistacoglu Holding’s technology subsidiaries, to the Turkish Public Disclosure Platform, stating that negotiations have begun with several leading China-based manufacturers to explore production opportunities in Türkiye.
Highlighting that no final agreements have yet been signed, Mistacoglu emphasized the production potential of their facilities.
“Our factory currently can produce 5.5 million smartphones annually, and we are in a position to scale up quickly,” he said.
“Türkiye is highly suitable to serve as both a production base and supply hub in the fields of technology and high-tech manufacturing.”
Founded in 1994, Mistacoglu Holding’s subsidiary AGM has operated the largest smartphone manufacturing facility in Türkiye since 2024 in Istanbul’s Tuzla district.
The company has also owned the Singapore-based smartphone brand OMIX since 2021.
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