Aegean Exporters' Association Reports Exports Worth $1.548 Billion

Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri (EİB) increased its August exports by 7 percent to USD 1.548 billion from USD 1.446 billion. Turkey's August exports rose 13 percent to USD 21.3 billion from USD 18.8 billion. EİB, which improved exports by 18 percent in the remaining two-thirds of 2022 to USD 12.195 billion from USD 10.331 billion, recorded USD 18.169 billion in exports over the past 12 months. Turkey reached its 2022 year-end target with USD 250.8 billion in exports over the past 12 months by the end of August. Industrial products exports from Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri rose 2 percent in August to USD 883 million from USD 869 million, while agricultural products exports increased 17 percent to USD 554 million from USD 474 million. The mining sector advanced 7 percent, raising exports to USD 110 million from USD 103 million. Of the 12 exporters' associations within EİB, nine increased exports compared to August 2021, while three saw declines.

Chemical exports reach peak

The chemicals sector, which has no dedicated exporters' association under the EİB umbrella, became the top exporting sector in August with USD 229 million in exports. Ege Demir ve Demirdışı Metaller İhracatçıları Birliği maintained its leading position among the 12 exporters' associations under EİB with USD 205 million in exports. Ege Su Ürünleri ve Hayvansal Mamuller İhracatçıları Birliği, which exceeded the USD 1.5 billion export threshold over the past 12 months in July, achieved 25 percent export growth in August and secured its second-place position by bringing USD 142 million in foreign currency to Turkey.

Exchange rate headwind affects ready-to-wear exports

Ege Hazırgiyim ve Konfeksiyon İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 125 million in exports in August, but exports declined 2 percent compared to August 2021. EHKİB, which directs nearly 80 percent of its exports to Europe, was negatively affected by changes in the euro-dollar parity. Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği increased exports 7 percent to USD 110 million from USD 103 million, while Ege Yaş Meyve Sebze İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 99.4 million in exports.

EHBYMİB's 12-month exports reach USD 951 million

Ege Hububat Bakliyat Yağlı Tohumlar ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği is moving closer to the USD 1 billion export threshold in annual exports with its consistent monthly performance. EHBYMİB raised exports 31 percent in August to USD 81 million from USD 62 million, bringing 12-month exports to USD 951 million.

Tobacco sector leads export growth

Ege Tütün İhracatçıları Birliği, Turkey's sole exporters' association for tobacco, achieved USD 81 million in leaf tobacco and tobacco products exports in August. ETİB became the fastest-growing sector under EİB with 41 percent export growth. Ege Mobilya Kâğıt ve Orman Ürünleri İhracatçıları Birliği raised exports 16 percent to USD 71 million in August 2022 from USD 61 million in August 2021. Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, with USD 58 million in August exports, was 8 percent below August 2021 levels. Ege Tekstil ve Hammaddeleri İhracatçıları Birliği recorded USD 21.181 million in exports, while Ege Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı İhracatçıları Birliği increased exports 15 percent to USD 19.885 million. Ege Deri ve Deri Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği brought USD 17.228 million in foreign currency to Turkey.  

Remove the constraints on exporters

Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi noted that exporters have been shackled due to Turkey's foreign currency needs, and that the USD 1.548 billion export performance in August 2022 represents the success of Aegean exporters despite recession expectations in the European Union, Turkey's largest export market.

Eskinazi continued his remarks as follows:

"As Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri, we reached our USD 18 billion export target for the end of 2022 in July. We also met Turkey's USD 250 billion export target for the end of 2022 by the end of August. Turkey's role as a global supplier, combined with the diligence of Turkish exporters in world markets, brought this success. Remove the constraints that have recently been placed on exporters. Then you will see much higher performance. The central bank needs foreign currency just as much as Turkey's exporters, which are integrated with the world market, need foreign currency. The government must not overlook this reality. We reiterate loudly once more that as exporters, we need financial support to meet our export targets."