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Turkey grapples with manufacturing downturn, weak demand amid pandemic

As demand and manufacturing output dip during the novel coronavirus crisis in Turkey, analysts warn inflation may rise in the coming months.
An employee works at the assembly line of the MAN Bus Production Center in Ankara, Turkey, July 29, 2015. According to a statement from the company, it employs 1,600 workers on the 320,000 square metre plant where seven vehicles are produced a day to be used for the MAN and NEOPLAN brand of city and intercity buses, as well as touring coaches. Picture taken July 29, 2015.  REUTERS/Umit Bektas   - GF20000008643

ISTANBUL — The coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on global economies and Turkey is no exception. To date, the nation has recorded 127,659 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,461 virus-linked deaths. Turkish leaders continue working to stem the spread of the disease with mixed success, as its domestic economic impacts materialize in the latest financial data.

A gauge on manufacturing output in April fell to its lowest point since the 2008 financial crisis, posing employment challenges for the sector, according to a report published Monday by Istanbul Chamber of Industry and IHS Markit.

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