Amid rising public anger over Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Indian traders and citizens have launched a widespread boycott of Turkish goods and travel. The movement is already impacting imports of Turkish apples and marble, and Indian tourist visits to Turkey have plummeted.
Image source: Freepik
The ongoing social media-driven call to ‘Boycott Turkey’ is significantly impacting business ties between India and Turkey. Triggered by Turkey and Azerbaijan’s open support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor—a countermeasure after the Pahalgam attack on civilians—the movement has led to rising public outrage. Allegations that Turkey supplied drones and arms to Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict have only fueled public anger and strengthened the ‘Nation First‘ sentiment.
As a result, the boycott movement is influencing Indian consumer behavior and business decisions, including travel cancellations and a growing aversion to imported Turkish goods such as apples and marble.
India-Turkey trade: An overview
India enjoys a trade surplus with Turkey, exporting more than it imports. According to Business Standard, between April–February 2024–25, India exported goods worth US$ 5.2 billion to Turkey, down from US$ 6.65 billion in 2023–24. These exports represented around 1.5% of India’s total exports valued at US$ 437 billion. Imports from Turkey during the same period stood at US$ 2.84 billion, a decline from US$ 3.78 billion in the previous year, and accounted for about 0.5% of India’s total imports of US$ 720 billion.
India’s key exports to Turkey include mineral fuels, auto parts, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and cotton. Meanwhile, India imports mineral oil, gold, marble, apples, vegetables, cement, and chemicals from Turkey. Turkey is among the top exporters of apples to India.
As per a June 2022 press release by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Indian companies have a notable presence in Turkey’s automobile, pharmaceutical, and IT sectors. Conversely, Turkish firms are active in India’s infrastructure and engineering sectors. However, as reported by Times of India, only US$ 6 million of the US$ 6.8 billion outbound foreign direct investment (FDI) by Indian firms in April 2025 was directed to Turkey and Azerbaijan, with most investments going to the Netherlands.
Boycott hits apples, marble, and travel
According to OEC, India imported approximately US$ 92.8 million worth of apples from Turkey in 2023, part of a total import of apples and pears valued at around US$ 376 million. In light of the boycott, ANI reported that traders in Pune have stopped purchasing Turkish apples, turning instead to domestic suppliers in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and international suppliers like Iran.
Supporting the movement, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, “I congratulate all traders who have decided to boycott imports from Turkey. At this juncture, ‘nation first’ should be our stand.” Business Today noted that Turkish apples contributed to a seasonal turnover of ₹1,000–1,200 crore in Pune’s fruit market, indicating the potential scale of impact.
The Udaipur Marble Processors Association, which represents 125 marble businesses, has called on the government to immediately halt imports of Turkish marble. As per media reports, Turkey supplies around 70% of India’s imported marble—roughly 14 to 18 lakh tonnes annually—valued between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000 crore. In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, Association President Kapil Surana emphasized, “Business cannot be bigger than the nation.”
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has also demanded a nationwide travel boycott. CAIT Secretary General and MP Praveen Khandelwal highlighted that the tourism sectors of Turkey and Azerbaijan stand to lose significantly. In 2024, Turkey received 62.2 million foreign tourists, including 300,000 Indians, contributing to US$ 61.1 billion in tourism revenue. Indian tourists alone spent an estimated US$ 291.6 million. Since the boycott began, flight bookings have fallen by 60%, and cancellations have surged by 250%. Travel platforms like EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip, and ClearMyTrip have all advised against non-essential travel to Turkey.
EaseMyTrip issued a statement saying, “In view of the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22… and war-like situations between India and Pakistan, it is disheartening to note that Turkey and Azerbaijan have extended their support to Pakistan.”
Despite mounting economic pressure, Turkey’s leadership remains steadfast. In a post on X, Turkish President expressed his support to Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, stating, “My precious brother, the brotherhood between Turkey and Pakistan, which is enjoyed by very few nations in the world, is one of the best examples of true friendship…”
While there has been no official announcement to suspend bilateral trade, netizens have voiced strong support for the boycott. It’s worth noting that India and Turkey have maintained cordial ties in the past. In February 2023, India launched Operation Dost, a humanitarian relief mission for Turkey following devastating earthquakes. Over 250 Indian personnel were deployed along with equipment and medical teams, offering crucial aid and life-saving surgeries.
