Ranking of Foreign Trade Capital Companies in Türkiye Using Critic-Copras Methods

Foreign trade is a key driver of economic growth, reducing external debt dependency, supporting industrial production, creating employment, and stabilizing the current account balance. In this framework, Foreign Trade Capital Companies (FTCCs) act as strategic intermediaries that facilitate SMEs’ access to global markets through financing, logistics, and promotion. Their corporate structures and international networks strengthen the competitiveness of Turkish products and ensure continuity of exports even during crises. The sustainability of FTCC activities is therefore essential not only for expanding trade volume but also for supporting long-term growth. This study evaluates the efficiency of FTCCs in Türkiye using the CRITIC-COPRAS method, which applies an objective weighting system and expresses the relative performance of firms in percentage terms. Seventeen financial ratios across liquidity, activity, financial structure, profitability, and market performance were analyzed for pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and pandemic (2020–2022) periods. The results show that the Leverage Ratio (debt to total assets) was the most influential criterion, while Net Profit to Equity was the least significant. İzmir Demir Çelik ranked highest before COVID-19, whereas Federal Mogul Türkiye led during the pandemic. Findings highlight the importance of leverage management for building resilience in crises and strengthening competitiveness. This study evaluates the efficiency of FTCCs in Türkiye using the CRITIC-COPRAS method, which applies an objective weighting system and expresses the relative performance of firms in percentage terms. Seventeen financial ratios across liquidity, activity, financial structure, profitability, and market performance were analyzed for pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and pandemic (2020–2022) periods. The results show that the Leverage Ratio (debt to total assets) was the most influential criterion, while Net Profit to Equity was the least significant. İzmir Demir Çelik ranked highest before COVID-19, whereas Federal Mogul Türkiye led during the pandemic. Findings highlight the importance of leverage management for building resilience in crises and strengthening competitiveness.