A record of USD 23.4 billion was set in exports

Export Hits Record USD 23.4 Billion Turkish Exporters Association (TİM) Chair İsmail Gülle noted that exports to a total of 27 countries hit record levels, including Germany, the United States, Israel and Spain, and that for the first time this month a single country received over USD 2 billion in exports. He stated: "We closed the first quarter of the year with an exceptionally strong performance, managing to raise our quarterly exports above USD 60 billion. As a result of the latest figures, we are USD 15 billion ahead on the road to USD 250 billion. We can now clearly see that Turkey is beginning to reap the fruits of this export momentum. We hope to reach our year-end target of USD 250 billion before the year closes. On behalf of the export community, we extend our gratitude to our esteemed President and our entire government for paving the way for our exporters." Achieving the highest first-quarter performance in republican history during the first quarter of this year, Turkish exporters—the frontline personnel of Turkey's economy and trade diplomacy—have now recorded another historic milestone. The Turkish Exporters Association (TİM), which unites over 100,000 exporters across 61 exporters' unions and 27 sectors working to grow the economy and establish Turkey among world leaders, announced April foreign trade figures at a meeting in Ankara attended by Commerce Minister Mehmet Muş. The export community demonstrated a historic performance, achieving USD 23.4 billion in exports—a 25 percent increase compared to the same month last year. With these figures, the highest monthly export volume on record was reached. Additionally, for the first time this month, a single country received over USD 2 billion in exports. With USD 23.4 billion in April exports, a crucial threshold was crossed on the path to the year-end target of USD 250 billion in exports.

April exports reached USD 23.4 billion with 25 percent growth

At the press briefing on "April 2022 Foreign Trade Figures," TİM Chair İsmail Gülle shared details of the historic export records with the public: "Our export community achieved a historic performance, recording USD 23.4 billion in exports—a 25 percent increase compared to the same month last year. With this figure, we managed to reach our highest monthly export volume. Thus, monthly records were set in 18 of the last 20 months. Our twelve-month exports exceeded USD 240 billion. We hope to reach our year-end target of USD 250 billion before the year closes."   Noting that 25 sectors increased their exports and 21 sectors recorded growth exceeding 10 percent, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle listed the top exporting sectors as follows: "Our chemicals sector, which reached a record export level of USD 3.3 billion this month, ranks first, followed by our automotive sector at USD 2.7 billion and our ready-made clothing sector at USD 2 billion in exports. Beyond these sectors, the most notable sectoral increases occurred in our iron and non-ferrous metals and steel sectors. A total of 8 sectors broke export records in April. These simultaneous successes across different sectors prove that Turkey is engaged in comprehensive production and export momentum."  

In April, 61 provinces increased their exports, while 16 provinces achieved their highest-ever export levels

  Noting that 61 provinces succeeded in increasing their exports in April, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle listed the top three exporting provinces as follows: Istanbul with USD 9.4 billion (up 30 percent), Kocaeli with USD 1.9 billion (up 48 percent), and İzmir with USD 1.4 billion (up 41 percent). TİM Chair İsmail Gülle noted that other provinces showing notable export growth were Ankara, which increased exports by USD 200 million, and Denizli, which increased exports by USD 94 million. Noting that 16 provinces achieved their highest-ever exports, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "As new investments come on line, exports from Anatolia continue to rise rapidly. In April, I particularly want to emphasize that Yozgat quadrupled its exports and Nevşehir increased exports 2.5 times. I congratulate all our provinces for this successful performance."  

"For the first time this month, we exported over USD 2 billion to a single country"

  Stating that the export community has managed to fly the Turkish flag in 214 countries and regions and has succeeded in increasing exports to 155 countries, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle continued: "The top three countries to which our exporters shipped the most were Germany with USD 2 billion (up 21 percent), the United States with USD 1.8 billion (up 50 percent), and the United Kingdom with USD 1.2 billion (up 12.4 percent). We set export records to a total of 27 countries, including Germany, the United States, Israel and Spain. We had conducted trade missions with intensive participation in Israel and Spain last month. The success that followed was a source of joy for us. Our exports to Spain increased by USD 270 million, and our exports to Israel increased by USD 190 million. For the first time this month, we exported over USD 2 billion to a single country."

Exports to the European Union reached USD 10 billion with 29 percent growth

  Noting that exports to the European Union reached USD 10 billion with 29 percent growth when looking at exports by country groupings, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "The EU's share in our exports was 42 percent. When we include other European countries outside the EU, Europe's share in our April exports was 55 percent. In other country groups, we shipped USD 3.9 billion to the Near and Middle East, USD 2.9 billion to Africa, USD 2 billion to North America, and USD 1.6 billion to Far Eastern countries. Our exports to Sub-Saharan Africa recorded growth exceeding 68 percent, surpassing USD 1 billion in a single month for the first time." Noting that positive momentum continued in export unit prices, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "Our unit export value rose to USD 1.44 with a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Our exports in volume terms increased 4 percent to 16.2 million tons."  

2,080 companies exported for the first time this month

Noting that companies' strong interest in exports continued to be reflected in the number of exporting firms in 2022, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "2,080 of our companies joined the export community by exporting for the first time this month. Our new companies achieved USD 123.4 million in exports in April. The number of companies exporting this month was 48,938.

"When we look at the figures excluding energy, we managed to achieve a trade surplus this month"

  Emphasizing that the rise in exports conducted in Turkish Lira continued, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "According to declarations opened in Turkish Lira, a total of TRY 8.7 billion in exports was realized in Turkish Lira to 162 countries. Exports in Turkish Lira increased 55 percent in April. Another piece of good news came from one of the most important topics for our export community—'Trade Balance.' When we look at the figures excluding energy, we managed to achieve a trade surplus this month. The ratio of non-energy exports to imports rose to 101 percent. We can now clearly see that Turkey is beginning to reap the fruits of this export momentum. The days when we will provide a direct 'Trade Surplus' including energy are, God willing, near. To achieve this, we have a cohesive export community of 100,000 people."  

TİM Chair İsmail Gülle Thanks President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Commerce Minister Mehmet Muş

  Stating that the government gave very important announcements to exporters—the frontline personnel of trade diplomacy—before the holiday, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle continued: "As a result of the latest announcements, with a bill submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly before the holiday, advertisements and promotional materials in fair areas will be exempt from tax. The portions of the Foreign Trade Complex—the epicenter of our exports—used by exporters will be transferred to TİM. Additionally, through decisions to be taken at general assemblies, debts of members who have gone bankrupt, ceased trading, and have not exported in the last five years can be written off. On the other hand, a new support package was announced that will accelerate the momentum of our rising exports and lead to higher export figures through new investments. Our President announced credit support of TRY 150 billion for exporters. Additionally, the allocation of TRY 250 million for SMEs and TRY 1.5 billion for non-SME firms is also extremely important. Our export community will pursue much larger targets with this support. In your presence, we extend our gratitude to our Minister for the significant support given to our export community. We are fortunate to have a government concerned with the problems of our exporters and a President who regards exporters as fellow travelers." Noting that in overall export figures they had closed the first quarter with an exceptionally strong performance and managed to raise quarterly exports above USD 60 billion, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle said this success would continue with accelerating momentum, as they had stated in previous months. TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "The USD 23.4 billion in exports we achieved in April was a very important step on the path to our year-end target of USD 250 billion in exports. I particularly want to emphasize that these successes were achieved during a period of significant global uncertainty. In this process, our exporters can work in coordination with every level of our state."   Noting that they held the TİM Export Talks program last week, bringing exporters together virtually with Moscow Ambassador Mehmet Samsar, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "Our exporters had the opportunity to obtain information directly from our Ambassador. Working jointly with our government and state during crisis periods helps solve problems more effectively.   Uncertainty is the biggest obstacle to trade. However, our exporters reach new records even in this environment of uncertainty and never allow production and exports to be interrupted. This is reflected in the statistics. The Real Sector Confidence Index, which shows the manufacturing industry's expectations about the economy, increased 1.2 points from the previous month to 109.7. Capacity utilization rates in the manufacturing sector reached 77.8, up 0.5 points from the previous month. Industrial production index recorded an increase to the 13.3 percent level on an annual basis with recent developments. Turkey is demonstrating an extremely strong production performance. While we are quite pleased with this picture, we know we must take both production and exports much further and are preparing our future plans accordingly. Because we know that it is production, the export of goods and services, that will bring our country to more prosperous tomorrows and place Turkey among the world's top 10 economies."   Stating that continuous global crises and Turkey's uninterrupted, dynamic production structure reinforce its characteristics as a "Reliable Supplier Haven," TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "The transformation in the global supply chain that began with the pandemic phase and continues due to war, and the rising trend toward nearshoring, herald a period when Turkey will make more effective use of its geopolitical location advantage. Following recent rapprochement in bilateral relations, as the export community we have engaged in very important contacts with the United Arab Emirates and Israel.   The goodwill shown to us in these countries and the interest in Turkish goods is extremely high. It is the task of our exporters to enter through the doors opened by our esteemed President. God willing, in the near future we will launch a serious export momentum in other countries where we have experienced similar issues. We find regional rapprochements that remove obstacles to trade extremely important. On behalf of the export community, we extend our gratitude to our esteemed President and our entire government for establishing these rapprochements and paving the way for our exporters." Emphasizing the need to increase exports by USD 2.1 billion each month compared to last year to reach the target of USD 250 billion set for 2022, TİM Chair İsmail Gülle stated: "This month, we increased our exports by nearly twice that figure. As a result of the latest figures, we are USD 15 billion ahead on the path to USD 250 billion. The fact that current momentum continues with an upward trend is extremely important. We are pursuing all our targets with great determination and faith. We aim for a high level of prosperity resulting from export growth. Because rising Turkey through exports means rising 84 million people through exports."