Turkish credit card spending abroad hits all-time high

Data from the Interbank Card Center (BKM) has revealed that spending by Turkish consumers abroad has set a new record. In May 2026, the total amount spent abroad with domestic credit cards rose to 93 billion 64 million liras. In the same period, the number of transactions reached 52.1 million, the highest figure recorded to date.

According to BKM statistics, the increase in overseas shopping has become pronounced not only on a monthly but also on an annual basis. The spending amount, which was 55.7 billion liras in May 2025, saw a 67 percent increase a year later. The number of transactions, which was 40.4 million in the same month last year, drew attention by rising to 52.1 million this year.

In contrast, growth in shopping done in Turkey with foreign cards remained more limited. Foreign card spending, which was 41 billion liras in May 2025, reached 48.4 billion liras in the same period this year, showing an increase of approximately 18 percent. The number of transactions rose to 11.5 million, an increase of 11.6 percent. Thus, the growth in shopping by Turkish citizens abroad has outpaced the growth in shopping by foreign tourists in Turkey.

The fact that inflation in Turkey continues unabated and prices are rising against foreign currencies has strengthened the consumer's preference for abroad. Especially in sectors such as textiles, footwear, cosmetics, and electronics, increases indexed to foreign currency are causing shopping trends to shift. Experts point out that the perception of Turkey, which has been known as a "budget-friendly shopping country" for many years, has begun to weaken recently.

Online shopping from abroad also continued to increase strongly. Despite the regulation aimed at removing the 30-euro customs exemption, e-commerce spending made with Turkish cards on foreign websites rose from 29.2 billion liras in May 2025 to 43.6 billion liras in 2026. This increase corresponds to approximately 49 percent. In the same period, online shopping done in Turkey with foreign cards grew by 23 percent, reaching 19.5 billion liras from 15.9 billion liras.

According to BKM's sectoral classification, the highest spending in online payments made abroad occurred in the service sector with 17.2 billion liras. This was followed by travel agencies and transportation with 9 billion liras, accommodation with 2.7 billion liras, and airline spending with 1.6 billion liras. Card spending of 1.8 billion liras was recorded in electrical and electronic products, and 1 billion liras in clothing.

In online shopping done in Turkey with foreign cards, airline, accommodation, and travel services were the prominent categories. On the other hand, spending in the retail sector remained at a much lower level compared to the spending of Turkish citizens abroad.

News Source: 12punto