AKİB Exports Reach USD 1.42 Billion in January

AKİB Achieved USD 1.42 Billion in Exports in January Mediterranean Exporters Associations (AKİB) achieved USD 1.42 billion in exports in January, recording a 43 percent increase compared to the same period last year. AKİB Coordinator Chairman Nejdat Sin stated: "Our Association, which achieved USD 16.3 billion in exports with a 46 percent increase in 2021, started 2022 at a strong pace. As AKİB, we delivered our strongest performance in January, recording remarkable growth rates reaching 133-fold increases in the Singapore, Netherlands, Libya and United States markets."

"We Will Write New Success Stories Through Improved Access to Financing"

AKİB Coordinator Chairman Nejdat Sin noted that with the Export Development Fund coming into effect in March, exporters' financing access issues would be substantially resolved. He expressed satisfaction with the opening of a TRY 60 billion guarantee limit to companies through three new support packages to be provided via the Credit Guarantee Fund. However, Chairman Sin emphasized that this figure would not be sufficient for the export community with major targets, stating: "There is a need to increase medium and long-term rediscount credits from the Central Bank for new export-oriented investments. The financing problems of exporters need to be solved through Eximbank, Credit Guarantee Fund and similar structures by increasing existing limits or through newly developed methods and approaches. As the export community, we have doubled every support given to us until now and broken records. If our financing problems are resolved, our companies focusing on investment, production, employment and exports will write new success stories in the export marathon, and it will become easier for AKİB to reach our USD 20 billion export target for 2022," he said. In January, the highest exports came from chemistry, iron and steel, grain and legumes associations Chairman Sin, noting that AKİB exports chemicals, iron and steel, grain and legumes products from production carried out in 8 main associations with over 21,000 members primarily in Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Kayseri and Karaman provinces to world markets, stated that the January foreign sales were dominated by chemistry, iron and steel, grain and legumes associations. He continued: "In January, our Mediterranean Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association achieved the highest exports with a 108 percent increase and a value of USD 472.2 million. Our Mediterranean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association ranked second with a 28 percent increase and USD 333.5 million, and our Mediterranean Grain, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association ranked third with a 53 percent increase and USD 163.2 million. In the same month, our Mediterranean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association increased its performance by 12 percent, achieving USD 153.4 million in exports. Our Mediterranean Textiles and Raw Materials Exporters Association achieved USD 111.8 million with a 24 percent increase, our Mediterranean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association USD 83.3 million with a 1 percent decrease, our Mediterranean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters Association USD 45.7 million with a 63 percent increase, and our Mediterranean Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters Association USD 23.3 million with a 10 percent decrease."

Strongest Performance in Export Volume Recorded in Singapore Market

Chairman Sin emphasized that AKİB's efforts to increase market diversification were notably reflected in January reports, noting that the strongest performance in export volume was achieved in the Singapore market, followed by Netherlands, Libya and United States. Chairman Sin stated: "In January, the Netherlands ranked first among countries where we achieved the highest exports with a 719 percent increase and a value of USD 128.7 million. Iraq followed this country in second place with a 22 percent increase and USD 92.2 million, and the United States in third place with a 228 percent increase and USD 85.2 million. In the first month of the year, we achieved the strongest performance in export volume in the Singapore market with a 13,322 percent increase and a value of USD 54.6 million. After Netherlands, we reached an export value of USD 22.6 million in the Libya market where we achieved a 244 percent increase. We also achieved notable export values in the Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Ukraine, France and Spain markets," he said.