While the Middle East led the increase in exports last year with 1.9 billion dollars in value terms, the fastest increase in proportion was in the CIS countries with 16.5 percent.
The region where Turkey increased its exports the most in 2019 compared to the previous year was the Middle East, with an increase of approximately 1.9 billion dollars, while the highest contribution to this increase, with 41 percent, came from the chemicals and products sector.
Despite the political uncertainties, economic recession signals, trade slowdowns and protectionist policies affecting the global economy, Turkey managed to increase its exports last year as well.
While Turkey’s exports to the European Union (EU) and the USA, which are its traditional markets, decreased in 2019, it was observed that the country turned its export route to regions such as the Middle East, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Africa.
According to the information compiled by the AA correspondent from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) data, Turkey’s exports to Africa, EU, CIS, other America, other Asia, other Europe, North American Free Trade Area, Oceania, Middle East, free zones, Far East last year. and exports to other countries increased by approximately 1.6 percent and reached 165 billion 959 million 755 thousand dollars.
During this period, the regions where the country made the most exports were the EU with 82.2 billion dollars, the Middle East with 26.1 billion dollars, Africa with 15.5 billion dollars, the CIS with 12.9 billion dollars and the North American Free Trade Area with 9.4 billion dollars.
We sold the most chemicals to the Middle East
The Middle East, whose exports increased by 1 billion 870 million 707 thousand dollars last year compared to the previous year, was the region whose exports increased the most in the said period.
While exports were made to the Middle East from 27 sectors last year, the exports of 17 of these sectors increased on an annual basis.
The biggest contribution to the increase in exports to the Middle East came from the chemicals and products sector. Exports of the sector increased by 767.2 million dollars on an annual basis and reached 3.6 billion dollars. The proportional equivalent of this increase in total exports to the region was calculated as 41 percent.
Additionally, grains, pulses, oilseeds and products worth $2.9 billion, steel worth $2.7 billion, furniture, paper and forest products worth $2.1 billion, and ready-made clothing and apparel products worth $2 billion were sold to the Middle East.
The defense and aerospace industry, which increased its exports to the region by 128.2 percent, reaching 710.1 million dollars, was the sector whose exports increased the most on a proportional basis.
Among the regions with the highest increase in export value, the Middle East was followed by the CIS, whose exports increased by 1 billion 820 million 191 thousand dollars, and Africa, whose exports increased by 1 billion 205 million 657 thousand dollars.
The region whose exports decreased the most in terms of value was the EU
Last year, exports to the EU constituted 49.5 percent of the total, while annual exports to the region decreased by approximately 1 percent, with a decrease of 771.3 million dollars. This decrease in value also made the EU the region where exports decreased the most in 2019.
While Turkish companies exported to Europe from 27 sectors in 2019, there was an annual increase in the exports of 14 sectors.
Most exports to the EU were made from the automotive sector. Last year, exports of this sector to the region decreased by 4.8 percent and reached 23.4 billion dollars. Additionally, ready-made clothing and apparel worth $12.2 billion, chemicals and products worth $8.5 billion, electricity and electronics worth $6.5 billion, and steel worth $5.1 billion were also exported to the EU.
The sector whose exports to the region increased the most in terms of value in the said period was chemicals and products with 1.8 billion dollars, while the highest decrease was in the steel sector with 1.4 billion dollars.
The sectors whose exports to the EU increased the most on a percentage basis are jewelery with 37.9 percent, hazelnuts and their products with 28.1 percent, chemicals and their products with 27.4 percent, carpets with 12.5 percent and cement with 8.6 percent. , glass, ceramics and earthenware products.
The EU, which was the region with the highest decrease in exports in terms of value last year compared to 2018, was followed by the North American Free Zone, whose exports decreased by 731 million dollars, other Asia with 487.4 million dollars, other Europe with 433.3 million dollars and 75.4 million dollars. followed by Oceania with the dollar.
Exports to CIS increased by 16.5 percent
According to the data, the region with the highest increase in exports on a percentage basis last year compared to 2018 was the CIS. While exports to this region were at the level of 11 billion 25 million 984 thousand dollars in 2018, it increased by 16.5 percent last year.
While exports were made to the CIS from 27 sectors last year, the exports of 23 of these sectors increased on an annual basis.
The sector that exported the most to the region in terms of value was the chemical substances and products sector, whose exports increased by 22.9 percent compared to the previous year and reached 2.1 billion dollars. Turkish companies also exported machinery and parts worth 1.2 billion dollars, the automotive industry worth 1.1 billion dollars, fresh fruits and vegetables worth 1 billion dollars, ready-made clothing and apparel worth 953 million dollars, and textiles and raw materials worth 946 million dollars to the CIS.
The sectors that increased their exports to the CIS region the most on a proportional basis in 2019 compared to the previous year were the defense and aerospace industry with 103.6 percent, ships and yachts with 47.8 percent, steel with 37.2 percent, aquaculture and animal products with 33 percent. manufactured products and tobacco with 29.1 percent.
Last year, CIS was the region whose exports increased the most on a proportional basis compared to 2018, followed by Africa with 8.4 percent, the Middle East with 7.7 percent, other Americas with 5.3 percent and free zones with 3 percent. .
On the other hand, the regions whose exports decreased the most on a proportional basis were Other Asia with 8.5 percent, Oceania with 8.3 percent, Other Europe with 7.4 percent, North American Free Trade Area with 7.2 percent, EU and South Africa with 1 percent. It was listed as Far East with 0.8 percent.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/turkiyenin-ihracati-2019da-en-fazla-orta-doguya-artti/1700125
