Turkish poultry industry rocked by cartel allegations

Turkey’s poultry industry has been shaken by a major criminal investigation into companies that control about 80% of the country’s chicken market. Authorities accuse their executives of coordinating prices through encrypted applications and secret meetings, while deliberately restricting supplies to create artificial shortages.

The operation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, took place on June 12 in eight provinces. Police detained 29 executives and senior employees at leading poultry companies. Prosecutors accuse them of undermining free-market principles, manipulating prices and forming a criminal organization to secure illegal profits.

A court also appointed state administrators to 13 of the country’s largest poultry companies, including Banvit, Şenpiliç, Erpiliç, Keskinoğlu, Lezita and Gedik. The companies together account for roughly four-fifths of the domestic chicken market. The administrators were tasked with ensuring transparency and preventing further coordination among managers.

The criminal case followed a decision by Turkey’s Competition Authority in September 2025. The authority fined the same 13 companies a record $89 million for illegally exchanging information and violating competition rules, saying they had formed a classic cartel.

The measures drew sharp reactions from the industry and warnings that state control could damage investment and drive prices even higher if production fell. In mid-June, an Istanbul court lifted the state administration orders for 11 of the 13 companies. The accused executives may defend themselves while free, but they cannot leave Turkey as the investigation continues.