159 Companies from the Aegean Region on the List of Turkey's Top 1,000 Exporters

Turkish Exporters Assembly announced the top 1,000 exporters list, defined as the exporters' champions league, with 159 companies from the Aegean Region. The Aegean Region was the second-largest source of companies on the list, while İzmir maintained its second position after Istanbul among the top 1,000 exporters with 82 companies. Denizli took its place on the list with 29 companies, while 23 exporters from Manisa are represented in the champions league. Six companies from Aydın, five each from Balıkesir, Kütahya and Muğla, and two companies from Uşak are on the top 1,000 list. Twenty companies from the Aegean Region succeeded in joining the top 1,000 exporters list in 2021, while 139 companies remained on the list.

Champions unchanged

Examining the export champions by province, it is notable that the 2020 export champions maintained their top positions in 2021. Vestel Ticaret A.Ş., based in Manisa and entering the top 1,000 list at fifth place nationwide, brought USD 2.6 billion in foreign currency to Turkey while maintaining its first position among Aegean Region-based companies. PERGAMON STATUS DIŞ TİC.A.Ş., İzmir's export champion, brought USD 845 million in foreign currency to Turkey in 2021 and ranked 20th nationwide. Başak Metal Ticaret ve Sanayi A.Ş., Denizli's export champion in 2020, increased its exports in 2021 by 57%, raising them from USD 389 million to USD 609.7 million and maintaining its top position. KLC GIDA ÜRÜNLERİ İTH.İHR.VE TİC.A.Ş., Muğla's export champion, brought USD 261.8 million in foreign currency to the country. KLC Gıda also continued its Turkey championship in the fish and animal products sector. Aydın's export champion maintained its mystery this year, while JANTSA JANT SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ took second place in Aydın with USD 101 million in exports. Kütahya's export champion did not participate in the survey, while VİG METAL SANAYİ VE TİCARET A. Ş., the second-largest exporter from Kütahya, demonstrated USD 70 million in performance. BALTA ORIENT TEKSTİL SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş., representing Uşak on the top 1,000 exporters list for many years, was Uşak's export champion in 2021 while increasing its exports by 35%, raising them from USD 55.7 million to over USD 75 million. TÜRKİYE PETROL RAFİNERİLERİ A. Ş., with production facilities in the Aegean Region although its legal headquarters are outside the region, was Turkey's third-largest exporter and became the chemistry sector champion. SOCAR TURKEY PETROL TİC. A.Ş., with production facilities in İzmir Aliağa, ranked as Turkey's eighth-largest exporter on the list. HABAŞ SINAİ VE TIBBİ GAZLAR İSTİHSAL ENDÜSTRİSİ A.Ş., producing in İzmir Aliağa, became Turkey's number one in the steel sector while ranking 9th in the overall ranking. BOSCH TERMOTEKNİK ISITMA VE KLİMA SAN.VE TİC.A .Ş., based in Manisa, became Turkey's largest exporter in the air-conditioning sector while ranking 56th in the overall ranking. JTI TÜTÜN ÜRÜNLERİ SANAYİ A.Ş. held the 153rd position on the top 1,000 list and became another İzmir company that is the export champion in the tobacco sector. UÇAK KARDEŞLER GIDA SERACILIK ULUSLARARASI NAKLİYE PLASTİK SANAYİ VE TİCARET LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ, extending Turkey's championship in fresh fruit and vegetable exports to its fifth year, ranked 203rd on the top 1,000 exporters list. VERDE YAĞ BESİN MADDELERİ SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ, which joined the top 1,000 exporters list in 2021, became another İzmir company that is the export champion in the olive and olive oil sector.

Maintaining our strong position on the list

Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator Chairman of Aegean Exporters Associations, sharing information that the Aegean Region demonstrated an export performance exceeding USD 28 billion in 2021, stressed that they maintain their strong position on the top 1,000 exporters list as the Aegean Region. Pointing to the sectoral diversity wealth in the Aegean Region, Eskinazi stated: "Export champions in the chemistry, electrical-electronics, steel, air-conditioning, fish and animal products, tobacco, fresh fruit and vegetable, and olive and olive oil sectors are producing in the Aegean Region. As a city that taught Turkey about exports, we aim to increase our number on the top 1,000 exporters list by focusing on sustainability, innovation, R&D, design, digitalization and vocational training," he said.