TurkStat Publishes 2020 SME Enterprise Statistics

Turkish Statistical Institute Releases 2020 SME Enterprise Statistics SMEs accounted for 36.4 percent of exports and 24 percent of imports in 2020. ANKARA (AA) - Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey accounted for 36.4 percent of exports and 24 percent of imports in the previous year. The Turkish Statistical Institute released "Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Statistics" for 2020. Accordingly, 3 million 295 thousand enterprises operated in industry and service sectors last year. SMEs comprised 99.8 percent of total enterprises, 72 percent of employment, 49.2 percent of personnel costs, 49.4 percent of turnover, 42.7 percent of production value, and 41.3 percent of value added at factor cost. SMEs were most active in the trade sector in 2020. According to the statistical classification of economic activities, 36.6 percent of SMEs operated in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, 14.2 percent in transportation and storage, and 12.3 percent in manufacturing. These enterprises held the largest share in employment in the trade sector.   The share of SME employment in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles within total SME employment was 27.5 percent, while this ratio in personnel costs was 24.4 percent, in turnover 54.7 percent, in value added at factor cost 25.3 percent, and in production value 15.9 percent. Value added per employee in medium-sized enterprises reached its highest level at TRY 128,000 in 2020. While average value added per employee for SME enterprises was TRY 15,000 in 2009, it was TRY 59,000 in 2020. The highest value added per employee within SME groups for 2009 and 2020 was realized in medium-sized enterprises at TRY 29,000 and TRY 128,000 respectively, while in the same years these values were TRY 19,000 and TRY 70,000 for small-sized enterprises, and TRY 8,000 and TRY 22,000 for micro-sized enterprises.

SMEs in manufacturing operated with low technology

2,442 SMEs operating in manufacturing conducted production in the high-technology class. While 56.7 percent of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises operated with low technology, this ratio was 47.6 percent in large-sized enterprises. When SMEs were examined by size, 57.5 percent of micro-sized enterprises conducted production in low technology, 32.2 percent in medium-low technology, 9.8 percent in medium-high technology, and 0.5 percent in high technology. In contrast, these ratios were 52 percent, 29.7 percent, 17.3 percent, and 1 percent respectively in small-sized enterprises, and 51.9 percent, 28.2 percent, 18.3 percent, and 1.6 percent in medium-sized enterprises.

SMEs realized 36.4 percent of exports in 2020

In exports, the share of micro-sized enterprises was 3.5 percent, small-sized enterprises 13.5 percent, and medium-sized enterprises 19.4 percent. The share of large-sized enterprises reached 63.6 percent. Based on enterprises' main activity, 58.7 percent of SME exports were conducted by enterprises operating in trade and 36.6 percent by those in industry sectors. SMEs' share in imports last year was 24 percent. In imports, the share of micro-sized enterprises was 1.5 percent, small-sized enterprises 6.4 percent, and medium-sized enterprises 16.2 percent. The share of large-sized enterprises reached 75.9 percent. Based on enterprises' main activity, 66.8 percent of SME imports were conducted by enterprises operating in trade and 26 percent by those in industry sectors. SMEs' export value, which was USD 57 billion in 2013, increased to USD 61 billion in 2020. In imports, the value was USD 48 billion in 2013 and rose to USD 49 billion in 2020.

SMEs exported to Europe

In 2020, 47.8 percent of exports by SMEs were directed to Europe and 34.3 percent to Asian countries. SMEs sourced 49.6 percent of their imports from Asia and 40.2 percent from European countries. Last year, manufacturing products comprised 91.4 percent of SME exports. Within SME exports, clothing accounted for 13.9 percent and textile products for 10.1 percent. The prominent products in SMEs' 2020 imports were basic metals at 33.6 percent, chemicals and chemical products at 12.4 percent, machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified at 12 percent, and computers with electronic and optical products at 5.3 percent. Last year, the total number of patent applications filed by SMEs was 1,563, of which 332 were registered. When evaluated by SME size, medium-sized enterprises ranked first with 570 patent applications and 162 registrations.