12-Month Exports Reach USD 254.8 Billion

Turkey achieved USD 18.6 billion in exports in February. Exports over the 12-month period reached USD 254.8 billion. Turkey Exporters Assembly (TİM) Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated in his remarks that February was a difficult month for the entire country due to earthquakes. Noting that the export community mobilized to support earthquake victims while ensuring trade continuity, Gültepe said: "According to General Trade System (GTS) records, we completed February with USD 18.6 billion in exports. This represents a 6.4 percent decrease compared to the same month last year. Exports from 11 provinces in the earthquake zone fell 43 percent to USD 985 million. Our first two-month exports covering January-February rose 1.5 percent to USD 38 billion, while our exports over the last 12 months reached USD 254.8 billion. Last month, the automotive sector provided the highest contribution to our exports with USD 2.6 billion. Our other top-five sectors ranked as follows: chemicals with USD 2.3 billion, ready-made apparel with USD 1.6 billion, electrical electronics with USD 1.3 billion, and steel with USD 1.1 billion. In February, 18 provinces increased their exports. The top five exporting provinces were Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Izmir, and Ankara. Last month, 1,455 companies joined the export family. Our unit export value rose to USD 1.69, up 29.6 percent compared to the same month last year." Gültepe reported that Turkey's top export destinations ranked as Germany, Italy, the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, and noted that recovery in exports to Saudi Arabia continues.  

Regarding assistance efforts for earthquake victims led by TİM and the process of returning to production in the region, Mustafa Gültepe said:

"Our grief is profound; our hearts are bleeding. I offer my condolences to our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquakes, swift recovery to the wounded, and patience to those who lost loved ones. We visited the region with our colleagues and witnessed the destruction firsthand. We spoke with earthquake victims and industrialists. While there was not extensive physical damage to production infrastructure, production had come to a standstill due to job losses. Production continues in provinces less affected by the earthquake such as Adana and Gaziantep. In Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Malatya, production has started to resume. These provinces have reached up to 30 percent capacity in some areas. However, due to housing shortages, people are forced to migrate. Therefore, meeting temporary shelter needs as soon as possible is of great importance. Based on this reality, we joined forces with our exporter associations and launched the 'TİM Container and Prefabricated Housing Project'. In the first phase, we are establishing temporary shelter centers with 1,000 homes capable of housing 5,000 people in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Hatay, and Malatya, the provinces most affected by the earthquake. The shelter centers, to be located near organized industrial zones, will begin shipping homes starting next week, God willing. We will provide all kinds of support to our workers and their families at these centers. People experienced severe trauma. It will take time to overcome this trauma and for our workers to return to production. I anticipate capacity will reach 60 percent after Eid. We need to take steps, as both state and private sector, to make it attractive for earthquake-affected citizens to remain in the region and return to work. Our ministries and relevant institutions have implemented important measures on this matter. Beyond all this, the state can also provide earthquake victims returning to work at factories an additional month's salary for at least 6 months on top of their regular wages from their employers." [caption id="attachment_149949" align="aligncenter"] MUSTAFA GÜLTEPE[/caption] Emphasizing that Turkey has the capacity to meet orders despite temporary suspension of production in the region, Gültepe said, "Many of our customers, disregarding rumors spread by some competing countries suggesting 'supply problems will occur in Turkey,' want to increase business cooperation with us. On behalf of all our exporters, I thank them."

Approximately 40 percent of growth stems from goods and services exports

Mustafa Gültepe said the 2022 growth figures announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) were encouraging as Turkey works to heal the wounds of the earthquake. Citing TURKSTAT data showing Turkey's economy grew 5.6 percent last year, Gültepe stated: "Approximately 40 percent of the growth came from the contribution of goods and services exports. Despite the great disaster, we will work with all our strength to achieve the highest export performance on the 100th anniversary of our Republic. We will participate in more trade fairs and organize more trade delegations to all markets far and near. We will welcome more buying delegations to our country," he added.