Exports Set Another Record in August

Exports Hit Record in August Turkey's Council of Exporters (TİM), an umbrella organization of 61 exporter unions representing 27 sectors and 100,000 exporters working to drive Turkey's economic growth, announced August foreign trade data at a press conference held at the Southeast Anatolian Exporters Unions' (GAİB) service building with the participation of Trade Minister Mehmet Muş. Turkish exporters, having set export records in the first seven months of the year and successfully waved the Turkish flag across the globe, added another record in August. According to the General Trade System (GTS), August exports reached USD 21.3 billion, up 13 percent year-on-year. This represents the highest August export figure on record, breaking records across all 12 months. Turkish exporters achieved USD 165 billion in exports during the first eight months of the year and surpassed USD 250 billion over the last 12 months, reaching their annualized export target. Following opening remarks by Trade Minister Mehmet Muş at the press conference on August foreign trade figures, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe shared details on export numbers with the public, stating that exports reached USD 21.3 billion with 13 percent growth, marking the highest August export performance to date. Noting that this figure exceeded USD 165.7 billion in the first eight months and USD 250.8 billion over the last 12 months, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said: "As of August, we have reached our 2022 annualized export target. Throughout the last 12 months, we have broken monthly export records." Chemicals Leads in August Sharing details on sectoral export performance in August, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said the chemicals sector continues as the top exporting sector, influenced by developments in global markets. Noting export growth in 21 sectors, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated: "Our top five sectors this month were: chemicals with USD 2.9 billion, automotive with USD 2.3 billion, ready-made clothing with USD 1.84 billion, steel with USD 1.82 billion, and electrical-electronics with USD 1.3 billion. The cereals and fruits-vegetables sectors achieved their highest exports on record." 53 Provinces Increased Exports; Four Provinces Recorded Over 20 Percent Growth TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated that 53 provinces increased their exports in August, noting that the top five exporting provinces were Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Izmir and Gaziantep. Noting that exports in Ankara, Adana, Mersin and Sakarya recorded increases exceeding 20 percent, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe continued: Our Gaziantep firms increased their exports by 6 percent this month, reaching USD 918 million. Gaziantep, our fifth-largest exporting province, serves as the region's flagship with exports to 196 countries, 3,000 export products and 71 firms among Turkey's Top 1,000 Exporters. Having increased exports by 26 percent last year and exceeding USD 10 billion in exports, we are confident that Gaziantep will reach its 2022 targets.

Number of Export Destinations Rises to 220 Noting that the number of export destinations increased from 218 to 220 in August, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe shared the following information: We succeeded in increasing exports to 151 countries. Our top five export destinations were Germany, the United States, Iraq, the United Kingdom and Italy. In addition to these countries, significant export increases of 70 percent to the United Arab Emirates, 130 percent to Lebanon and 214 percent to South Africa were recorded. "In Our Trade Mission, We Saw Strong Interest in Turkish Companies in the Region" Recalling that this month they organized a trade mission to Egypt with a 52-person group comprising exporter unions and company representatives, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said: "Egypt is an extremely important market for our region. During the first eight months of the year, we exported USD 3.2 billion to Egypt. In our trade mission, we saw strong interest in Turkish companies in the region." TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe noted that the mission was attended by 650 representatives from 421 foreign companies and that Turkish companies conducted more than 1,000 bilateral business meetings, stating: "Hopefully, as a result of developing bilateral relations in the coming period, we will open a new chapter in mutual trade. We will continue our trade diplomacy activities in Romania this month. Additionally, by year-end, within the scope of the Far Countries Strategy announced by our Ministry, we will conduct missions in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Brazil and Chile. I invite all our companies wishing to develop relations with these countries to join our trade missions." 1,828 Companies Begin Exports TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe noted that 1,828 companies exporting for the first time in August achieved USD 79 million in exports, adding that unit export value rose to USD 1.46, a 17 percent increase compared to the same month last year. "Going Forward, We Will Advance Our Exports on the Basis of Sustainability and Digitalization" Emphasizing that serious steps must be taken in sustainability and digitalization to carry today's export gains into the future, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said they view the effective and efficient integration of sustainability at every stage of exports, from supply to delivery, as a responsibility. Noting that it is impossible to remain indifferent to technology-compatible production and sales activities through digitalization, exponentially growing e-commerce and technological innovations, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated: "As TİM, we aim for uniform and comprehensive development in digitalization and regard as duties the contributions we make to our country's digital transformation in a way that leaves no one behind. In the coming period, we will advance our work to develop our exports on the basis of sustainability and digitalization. For the future of our exports, we will develop joint projects and projections with a participatory approach centered on consultation encompassing all our unions under our council's roof. In this way, we will prepare strong futures for our exports today."