Provisional Foreign Trade Data for November Released

Turkey's Export Council (TİM) announced provisional foreign trade data for November with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan at the Foreign Trade Complex in Istanbul. November exports reached USD 16.214 billion according to the General Trade System (GTS). In the first 11 months of the year, exports grew by 1.8 percent to USD 165 billion, while the trailing 12-month export figure reached USD 180 billion. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle stated: "The work conducted by our exporters with full force and maximum performance is crowned with an export picture above the global average, and this makes us proud. Our country's export performance stands out with its successful momentum when compared with our competitors and target markets. South Korea, which announced its first 9-month export data for 2019, saw exports decline by 9.8 percent. In the United Kingdom the decline was 6.5 percent, in Germany 5.2 percent, in Russia the decline was 4.6 percent, while Japan saw a 4.5 percent decline and the US a 1.2 percent decline. China's exports fell by 0.1 percent. Our country, on the other hand, posted a growth rate of 2.6 percent in the first 9 months. The dynamism of our exporters, correct route determinations and strategic decisions, supported by our government, are carrying our position in the global arena to better points and will continue to do so," he said. Gülle continued: "With 85,000 goods exporters and 5,000 service exporters reached in 2019, our trade diplomacy in the field reached 90,000 personnel. Our goal is a Turkey with a Foreign Trade Surplus. We are working toward this goal, highlighting exports as the most critical component of sustainable development. The facilities provided by our government to exports and exporters always return to our country manifold. We, in turn, work harder and focus on our business with a value-added production consciousness. We firmly believe we will exceed our 2023 export target of USD 226.6 billion," he said.

1,545 companies joined the Export Family in November

Elaborating on the details of November exports, TİM Chairman Gülle said: "First of all, I am pleased to report that 1,545 companies joined our export family in November. Looking at it from a company perspective, a total of 40,677 companies in our country conducted exports during November."

Automotive sector maintained its leadership

The automotive sector was November's leader with USD 2.7 billion in exports. The automotive sector was followed by chemical substances with USD 1.8 billion in exports and ready-made garments and clothing with USD 1.5 billion in exports. Nine sectors achieved growth above 10 percent, demonstrating successful performance. The strongest performers in November were ships and yachts with 447 percent growth reaching USD 162 million in exports, defense and aviation with 57 percent growth reaching USD 360 million, and hazelnuts with 48 percent growth reaching USD 265 million. Looking at the number of countries to which sectors exported, chemical substances ranked first with exports to 208 countries and regions, cereals ranked second with 189 countries, and steel ranked third with 188 countries.

Exports increased to 105 countries

In November, exporters managed to wave the Turkish flag in 210 countries and regions. While exports increased to 105 of these countries, growth exceeded 10 percent in 70 countries and 50 percent in 32 countries. The top 3 countries with the most exports were Germany with USD 1.5 billion, Iraq with USD 1.1 billion, and the United Kingdom with USD 948 million. The top 10 countries accounted for 48.4 percent of exports, while the top 20 countries accounted for 66.4 percent. The European Union, our largest market, accounted for 47.5 percent of our exports in November.

The most striking growth was 2,030 percent in Yalova

Looking at provincial exports, 41 provinces increased their exports in November, and the top 3 provinces with the most exports were respectively Istanbul with USD 6.1 billion, Bursa with USD 1.4 billion, and Kocaeli with USD 1.3 billion. The most striking increases were in Yalova with 2,030 percent growth reaching USD 88 million in exports, Çorum with 504 percent growth reaching USD 96 million, and Giresun with 103 percent growth conducting USD 35 million in exports. Ships and yachts in Yalova, jewelry in Çorum, and hazelnuts in Giresun demonstrated extraordinary performance in November.