By Bosphorus News Economy Desk
A record 48 Turkish construction companies have entered Engineering News-Record's latest ranking of the world's 250 largest international contractors, while their combined overseas revenue rose to $24.9 billion in 2025.
Türkiye remains second only to China by the number of companies represented in the ENR Top 250 International Contractors list. China has 75 companies in the 2026 ranking, followed by Türkiye with 48 and the United States with 41.
By international revenue, however, Turkish contractors rank seventh, up two places from the previous year.
Their combined revenue outside Türkiye increased from $20.8 billion to $24.9 billion, a rise of $4.1 billion, or nearly 20 percent.
Record Number of Turkish Companies
Türkiye's presence in the ENR ranking has grown for three consecutive editions.
The number of Turkish companies rose from 43 in the 2024 list to 45 in 2025 and reached 48 this year. Seven Turkish contractors are now among the top 100, with two in the top 50.
Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranks companies according to construction revenue earned outside their home countries. The 2026 edition therefore reflects international revenue generated during 2025 rather than the value of contracts signed this year.
Turkish companies accounted for 4.5 percent of the Top 250's combined international revenue.
By country revenue, Türkiye moved behind China, France, Spain, the United States, South Korea and Italy, while moving ahead of Japan, the Netherlands and India.
Global Revenue Reaches $550.6 Billion
The Top 250 generated a combined $550.6 billion in international revenue in 2025, up 9.7 percent from the previous year.
Turkish contractors posted a faster increase than the overall market despite operating heavily in regions exposed to war, political risk, financing constraints and supply-chain pressure.
The Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Central Asia remain important markets for the sector, while infrastructure programs in the Gulf and prospective reconstruction work in Ukraine and Syria are opening additional opportunities.
The Trade Ministry said Türkiye is also seeking to expand its contractors' presence in European markets including Romania and Portugal.
Ankara has increasingly promoted partnerships with countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan for projects in third markets, particularly where financing and access to large-scale infrastructure tenders can be strengthened through joint bids.
Seven New Turkish Entrants
Türkiye Contractors Association (TMB) President M. Erdal Eren said seven Turkish companies that were not on last year's list entered the 2026 ranking.
Eren said the 48-company presence and Türkiye's second-place position by company count reflected the sector's international competitiveness.
The Turkish names in this year's Top 250 include major construction, infrastructure and energy groups such as Enka, Rönesans, Limak, Çalık Enerji, Gülermak, Nurol, Cengiz, Tekfen, IC İçtaş, Yapı Merkezi and Kalyon.
The rise to 48 companies also shows that Türkiye's overseas contracting business is spread across a broader group than the country's largest construction conglomerates alone.
Turkish Design Firms Also Expand Their Presence
Turkish engineering and consultancy companies also gained ground in ENR's separate ranking of the world's 225 largest international design firms.
Nine Turkish companies entered that list this year, one more than in the previous edition.
Türkiye ranked joint sixth with Japan by number of companies represented, behind the United States, China, Italy, South Korea and Spain.
The stronger signal still comes from contracting revenue. Turkish companies entered the 2026 ranking in record numbers while lifting overseas earnings to $24.9 billion and moving two places higher in the country revenue table.
Sources: Engineering News-Record; Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade; Türkiye Contractors Association; Bosphorus News reporting and review.