Drinking water prices in Türkiye surge over 100% in a year

Drinking water prices in Türkiye have increased by over 100% in 2023, raising concerns about market manipulation by foreign water brands, according to industry representatives.

Foreign brands accused of price manipulation

Ahmet Turan Akkaya, President of the Istanbul Water and Beverage Sellers Association, stated that foreign brands are ignoring the nationally accepted pricing regulations, opting to set their own prices.

“There is a distinction among water sellers: those selling water from Istanbul’s sources comply with the tariff, while those bringing water from regions like Bursa and Sakarya do not,” Akkaya said.

Rapid price hikes amid stagnant costs

Despite no significant increases in fuel prices, wages, or currency exchange rates, bottled water prices have surged twice in the past six months. In some areas of Istanbul, the price of a 19-liter water container has reached up to ₺140 ($4), with an average price range of ₺100–120 ($2.8–3.4).

Mehmet Bülent Deniz, President of the Consumers Union Federation, described the price hikes as unacceptable, saying: “Operational costs have not increased to justify such hikes. A thorough investigation is necessary to understand the rationale behind these price increases.”

Call for government intervention

Both Akkaya and Deniz have called on the Ministry of Trade to take action against price manipulation. Akkaya revealed that foreign brands often register their distributors with the Chamber of Commerce instead of professional chambers to bypass mandatory tariffs. “We communicated this issue to the ministry, and we expect inspections to begin shortly,” he added.

Deniz emphasized the need for stricter oversight, stating, “If these price increases are unjustified, penalties must be enforced under the law.”

Packaged water industry insights

According to the Packaged Water Manufacturers Association (SUDER), Türkiye’s packaged water market grew by 1.6% in 2023, reaching a total volume of 10.8 billion liters and a revenue of ₺31.1 billion ($897.3 million).

Of this, bottled water sales accounted for 51% of the market, while container water made up the remaining 49%.