Aegean Exporters' Association Boosts Chemical Exports to $1.5 Billion

Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri (EİB) increased its October exports by 4% from USD 1 billion 426 million to USD 1 billion 482 million. Turkey's October exports rose by 7.4% from USD 21 billion 300 million to USD 22 billion 873 million. Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri recorded USD 15 billion 157 million in exports for the first 10 months of 2023, while EİB's 12-month exports rose by 1.6% from USD 18 billion 58 million to USD 18 billion 340 million. In October, industrial sectors of Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri increased their exports by 7.6% from USD 716 million to USD 770 million, while agricultural sectors' exports grew by 1.5% from USD 619 million to USD 629 million. The mining sector recorded USD 82.9 million in export performance.

EDDMİB to close 2023 without losses

Ege Demir ve Demirdışı Metaller İhracatçıları Birliği maintained its leading position within Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri with USD 191 million 250 thousand in exports. Although Turkey's steel and ferrous and non-ferrous metals sectors suffered a USD 9.5 billion export loss over the past year, Ege Demir ve Demirdışı Metaller İhracatçıları Birliği came very close to the previous year's USD 2 billion 540 million figure with USD 2 billion 523 million in exports over the 12-month period. The success of Aegean steel exporters in processed product exports contributed to this achievement.

Record in textiles

Ege Tekstil ve Hammaddeleri İhracatçıları Birliği continued its successful performance in recent months through October. ETHİB's October exports rose by 134% from USD 25 million to USD 58.7 million. ETHİB became the export growth leader among the 12 exporter unions within EİB in October.

Aquatic products and animal products lead food sectors

Ege Su Ürünleri ve Hayvansal Mamuller İhracatçıları Birliği, which matched October 2022's USD 128.7 million export figure in October 2023, maintained its leadership position in food sectors under the EİB umbrella.

Fresh fruit, vegetable and processed products sector ranks third

Ege Yaş Meyve Sebze İhracatçıları Birliği, which had a successful year, maintained its performance in October. EYMSİB increased its October exports by 6% from USD 120.8 million to USD 127.4 million, bringing USD 1 billion 327 million in foreign currency to Turkey over the 12-month period. EYMSİB ranked third among the 12 unions within EİB in October.

Dried fruit sector accelerates with dried figs

With the start of the dried fig season, Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği entered an active period, increasing its October exports by 12% from USD 109 million to USD 122 million. EKMİB's 12-month exports grew by 6.4% from USD 866 million to USD 921 million. Ege Hazırgiyim ve Konfeksiyon İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 94.5 million in October exports, approaching October 2022 export levels by USD 2 million despite global recession. Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, which fell behind 2022 export levels due to global recession, recorded USD 82.9 million in export performance in October with an 8.4% decline, and remained at USD 1 billion 84 million in exports over the 12-month period with a 9.6% decrease. In October, Ege Hububat Bakliyat Yağlı Tohumlar ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 76 million 106 thousand in exports, while Ege Tütün İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 73 million 413 thousand. Ege Mobilya Kağıt ve Orman Ürünleri İhracatçıları Birliği repeated its October 2022 export volume with USD 68 million in exports, while Ege Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı İhracatçıları Birliği slowed its pace following the ban on bulk and barrel olive oil exports. EZZİB increased its October exports by 19% from USD 25 million to USD 30 million. Ege Deri ve Deri Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, which recorded USD 13.1 million in exports in October 2022, provided USD 12 million 308 thousand in foreign currency in October 2023 with a 6% loss.

Chemical sector increased exports by 38%

When examining export performance of sectors not represented within Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri, the chemical sector maintained its leadership among non-represented sectors by increasing exports by 38% from USD 98 million to USD 135 million. The automotive industry sector followed the chemical sector with USD 94.5 million in exports, while the electrical and electronics sector reached USD 52.5 million, machinery and components USD 43.1 million, and cement, glass, ceramics and raw materials USD 22 million in export levels. Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri, described the performance of Turkish exporters during the first 10 months of 2023 as a successful period despite global recession and difficulties in accessing financing, noting that as exporters they are putting up a fierce struggle to not lose gained markets. Noting that EİB's 10-month exports exceeded USD 15 billion, Eskinazi stated, "Over the 12-month period, we increased our exports by 1.6% to USD 18 billion 340 million. In 2023, the centenary year of our Republic, despite all negative conditions, we will achieve our target of maintaining current levels. While our industrial and mining sectors fell behind the previous year's export figures, it was our agricultural product exports that kept our export figures in positive territory. Our agricultural sectors increased their exports by 12.3% from USD 6.5 billion to USD 7.3 billion over the 12-month period. If there had been no export restrictions on some agricultural products, we would have been pushing USD 8 billion levels," he said. Stating that they are focusing on TURQUALITY and URGE Projects to make maximum contributions to Turkey's USD 265 billion export target for 2024, Eskinazi concluded his remarks as follows: "In 2024, we will add new projects to our TURQUALITY and URGE Programs. Our planning is underway to organize Turkey's National Participation in 15 International Trade Fairs in 2024. Sectoral Trade Missions, Purchasing Missions, digital marketing, design, vocational training and innovation will be the areas we will focus on."