Cash flow tops list of problems in Turkey's auto aftermarket, OSS survey finds
A survey by the Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS) found that 80.9% of its members cited cash flow as their main problem in the third quarter of 2026. Members also expect domestic sales to fall in the last quarter.
The Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS) has published the results of its third-quarter 2026 survey of members. Cash flow was the problem cited most often in the automotive aftermarket. Some 80.9% of members named difficulties with cash flow as one of the sector's main problems.
Domestic sales of surveyed members rose an average of 0.03% in dollar terms compared with the same period of 2025. Distributor members saw their sales fall 2.61%, while manufacturer members' sales rose 3.18%. Both changes were calculated in dollars.
Aftermarket problems and collections
After cash flow, rising costs came second at 70.6%, and lost business and revenue came third at 52.9%. Some 47.1% of members listed freight costs and delivery delays as problems.
The share of members saying collection processes had worsened compared with the previous quarter, or had deteriorated sharply, rose to 54.4% in total. Of the rest, 35.3% said collection terms had not changed and 10.3% said they had improved.
Investment plans and capacity use
The share of members planning new investment over the next three months fell from 20.3% to 14.7%. Among manufacturers the figure dropped from 28.6% to 22.6%, and among distributors from 13.9% to 8.1%. Some 91.9% of distributors said they had no investment planned for the coming three months.
The average capacity utilisation rate for manufacturer members was 68.06%, down from 73.93% in the previous survey. Production fell an average of 0.68% compared with the third quarter of 2025, and exports fell 0.16% in dollar terms. On employment, 52.9% of members kept headcount unchanged, 22.1% increased it and 25% reduced it.
Fourth-quarter outlook
Respondents expect domestic sales in the last quarter of 2026 to fall an average of 1.3% in dollar terms compared with the same period last year. Distributors forecast a 2.81% decline, while manufacturers expect a 0.5% increase. The share of members who expect conditions to worsen rose from 21.9% to 41.2%.
OSS Board Chairman Ali Özçete said the deterioration in collections is affecting companies' financial planning. According to Özçete, high costs, weak demand and difficulties in accessing finance are narrowing businesses' room to manoeuvre. He called for costs to be kept under control, easier access to finance and greater economic predictability to strengthen investment appetite.
This article was compiled with the help of AI from information published by Otohaber.
