Aegean Region's Exports Exceeded $28 Billion in 2021

Aegean Region Exports Exceed $28 Billion in 2021 Aegean Exporters Associations achieved USD 16.325 billion in exports during 2021. AEA increased its exports from USD 13.004 billion in 2020 by 26 percent. Exports from the Aegean Region rose by 29 percent from USD 21.8 billion to USD 28.158 billion. Izmir generated 53 percent of the Aegean Region's exports with USD 14.815 billion in exports. In December, the Aegean Exporters Associations posted export performance of USD 1.560 billion with a 24 percent increase, reaching the highest monthly export level in its 82-year history. AEA had recorded USD 1.256 billion in exports in December 2020.

11 of 12 Associations Increased Exports

Industrial sectors contributed USD 9.528 billion to the Aegean Exporters Associations' exports, with industrial sector exports rising 37 percent. Agricultural sectors increased their exports by 12 percent from USD 5.095 billion to USD 5.716 billion, while the mining sector was represented in the Aegean Exporters Associations with USD 1.081 billion in exports.

Exports Growth Record Belongs to Textile Sector

Within the Aegean Exporters Associations, the Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association achieved the export growth record in 2021 with a 66 percent increase. ETHİB, which recorded USD 240 million in exports in 2020, achieved USD 398 million in exports in 2021. The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association, as in 2020, was the largest exporting association among the 12 exporter associations within AEA in 2021. EDDMİB increased its exports from USD 1.361 billion in 2020 to USD 2.241 billion in 2021 with a 65 percent increase.

Chemists Deserve an Exporter Association

Aegean chemists, not represented under the Aegean Exporters Associations umbrella, concluded 2021 with USD 1.838 billion in export performance, once again demonstrating through export figures that they should have an exporter association within AEA.

Eskinazi: "2021 Was a Golden Year for Exports"

Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chair Jak Eskinazi noted that Turkish exporters generated USD 225.368 billion in foreign currency for Turkey in 2021, that AEA members contributed USD 16.325 billion to these exports, that the USD 214 billion export target set in the Medium Term Stability Program for end-2023 was already exceeded by end-2021, and underscored that 2021 was a golden year for exporters.

Aegean Region Exports Exceed $28 Billion

The Aegean Region's 2021 exports increased by 29 percent from USD 21.8 billion to USD 28.158 billion. Izmir increased its exports from USD 11.710 billion in 2020 to USD 14.815 billion in 2021, generating 53 percent of the Aegean Region's exports single-handedly. Izmir's exports showed a 27 percent increase in 2021, while the two free zones located in Izmir contributed USD 2.585 billion to exports.

AEA Exports to 3 Countries Exceed $1 Billion

While the Aegean Exporters Associations had exported more than USD 1 billion only to Germany in 2020, in 2021 they exceeded the USD 1 billion threshold in exports to the United States and the United Kingdom as well. The number of countries and customs zones to which AEA exports reached 211. European Union countries captured the largest share with USD 7.485 billion of AEA's USD 16.325 billion in exports during 2021, while AEA members achieved the largest export growth rate of 37 percent to the Americas, bringing exports to that continent to USD 1.903 billion. Aegean exporters exported USD 1.726 billion to Middle Eastern countries in 2021, while their exports to Asia and Oceania advanced 36 percent from USD 941 million to USD 1.276 billion. AEA's exports to African countries recorded a 26 percent increase, reaching USD 1.249 billion.