Automotive Industry Was Turkey's Top Exporting Sector in 2020

The automotive industry achieved the highest exports in 2020 at USD 25,548,566,000 despite a 16.5% decline compared to 2019.

According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the automotive industry recorded USD 2,799,028,000 in exports in December. This brought the sector's total 2020 exports to USD 25,548,566,000. In terms of total export volume for the year, the automotive industry was followed by chemicals and chemical products at USD 18,263,488,000 and ready-made garments and apparel at USD 17,143,441,000. In terms of export growth compared to 2019, the shipbuilding and yachting sector ranked first with 31.9%. This sector was followed by fresh fruits and vegetables at 20.8% and fruit and vegetable products at 8.8%. The industrial sector, which accounted for 75.3% of Turkey's total exports, saw foreign sales decline by 7.6% year-over-year to USD 127,645,230,000 in 2020. During the same period, the agriculture sector, which represented 14.4% of total exports, achieved USD 24,369,143,000 in foreign sales with a 4.3% increase, while the mining sector, accounting for 2.5% of exports, recorded USD 4,272,391,000 with a 0.9% decline.

Germany led in export destinations

In the past year, the top three countries for Turkish exports were Germany at USD 14,422.9 million, the United Kingdom at USD 10,496.6 million, and the United States at USD 8,859.3 million. The share of the top 20 countries in exports reached 65.43% last year. The export volume to these countries totaled USD 102,257,867,000.   Source: AA