Aegean Exporters Received Their Awards

Aegean Exporters Receive Awards In the 100th year of our Republic, Aegean exporters who earned Turkey USD 42.6 billion in exports during this period have reached award time. Aegean Exporters Associations held its "Stars of Exports Award Ceremony" and presented 61 awards to 57 companies in 21 categories.

Petkim, Pergamon-Status and Kocaer receive double awards

Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.Ş. won the award for highest export volume among Aegean Exporters Associations members again in 2023, while maintaining its export championship in the chemical sector. Pergamon-Status Dış Ticaret A.Ş. won the award for highest export volume among foreign trade capital companies of Aegean Exporters Associations in 2023, as it has in previous years. Pergamon-Status Dış Ticaret A.Ş. also managed to rank second on the list of highest exporting companies among EİB members. Kocaer Çelik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. won the award for third highest export volume among Aegean Exporters Associations members, and with USD 2 billion 515 million in exports in 2023, the company achieved export championship this year among members of the Aegean Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association, which ranks at the top among Aegean Exporters Associations members. Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, noting that the Associations achieved USD 18.3 billion in exports in 2023, stated that the star companies of exports in the 100th year of our Republic generated a major share of USD 7 billion 30 million of this export volume. Eskinazi continued: "Our agriculture sectors increased their exports by 9 percent, moving from USD 6.7 billion to USD 7.3 billion, preventing a decline in our Aegean Exporters Associations' exports. Our industrial sectors earned USD 9 billion 877 million in foreign currency for our country, while our mining sector achieved USD 1 billion 66 million in exports. We exported to 215 countries and customs territories. In 2023, a total of 7,258 companies contributed to our exports. We view all our companies, whether they provide large or small contributions to our exporters, as heroes, and we sincerely congratulate them," he said.

I am not pessimistic about 2024

Eskinazi also made forecasts regarding 2024 at the "Stars of Exports Award Ceremony" and continued: "Economic indicators give signs that 2024 will be a year in which we will continue to fight high inflation, with exchange rates moving at low levels at least in the first half. To bring high inflation under control, we must take bitter medicine. While taking the bitter medicine, it should not be fatal, social balances should not be disrupted. High inflationary conditions will continue in the first two quarters of 2024. Pressure on exchange rates, credit constraints and the risk of foreign capital not flowing will persist. In the second quarter, we expect movement in these parameters. We expect gradual movement to begin in exchange rates and credit availability. Exporters will estimate the price with hope and set prices accordingly. I view the third quarter as a recovery period. In the fourth quarter, perhaps a slight profit-making period may begin. I am not pessimistic about 2024."

New investments must be made

Eskinazi, stating that Turkey must continue investments in 2024 to remain competitive, said: "However, there is concern among those who will invest. New facilities must be provided to those who will invest. New sectors are coming to business. New ways of doing business are coming. New investments must be structured according to this trend," concluding his remarks.   Of the companies receiving awards at the EİB Stars of Exports Award Ceremony, 44 retained their place on the stars of exports list, while 13 companies succeeded in entering the stars of exports this year.