Turkey's Exports Increased in 2020 Despite Covid-19 Pandemic

Although many countries saw declines in exports in 2020 due to the negative effects of COVID-19, Turkey's exports to the United States and China, two of the world's leading economies, did not slow down during this period. Turkey's exports to the United States rose 12.2 percent from USD 7 billion 893 million 415 thousand in 2019 to USD 8 billion 859 million 344 thousand in 2020. Exports to China increased 2.8 percent from USD 2 billion 582 million 580 thousand to USD 2 billion 654 million 539 thousand. The automotive industry achieved the highest exports to the United States last year at USD 951 million 71 thousand. The automotive industry was followed by carpets at USD 932 million 355 thousand, chemicals and chemical products at USD 835 million 823 thousand, ready-made garments and confectionery at USD 793 million 627 thousand, and defense and aerospace industries at USD 784 million 227 thousand. The largest increase in exports to the United States by volume was achieved in the carpet sector at USD 267 million 224 thousand. The carpet sector was followed by jewelry at USD 171 million 70 thousand, steel at USD 159 million 936 thousand, ready-made garments and confectionery at USD 146 million 425 thousand, and chemicals and chemical products at USD 94 million 420 thousand.

Mining products achieved the highest exports to China last year at USD 1 billion 290 million 658 thousand. Following this sector, the country received exports of chemicals and chemical products at USD 299 million 140 thousand, ferrous and non-ferrous metals at USD 202 million 507 thousand, electrical and electronics at USD 110 million 807 thousand, furniture paper and forest products at USD 90 million 80 thousand.

The largest increase in exports to China by volume was achieved by ferrous and non-ferrous metals sectors at USD 152 million 237 thousand. This sector was followed by furniture paper and forest products at USD 47 million 448 thousand, steel at USD 46 million 547 thousand, ready-made garments and confectionery at USD 19 million 181 thousand, and cereals legumes oil seeds and products at USD 18 million 100 thousand. When examined by province, exporters from Istanbul achieved the highest exports to both the United States and China.

Istanbul exported USD 3 billion 125 million 787 thousand to the United States last year. Following Istanbul, Gaziantep exported USD 1 billion 109 million 901 thousand to the United States, Izmir USD 730 million 403 thousand, Ankara USD 704 million 536 thousand, Bursa USD 596 million 341 thousand.

Istanbul's exports to China in 2020 amounted to USD 910 million 485 thousand. Istanbul was followed by Ankara with USD 534 million 535 thousand, Bursa with USD 133 million 40 thousand, Izmir with USD 120 million 921 thousand, and Antalya with USD 99 million 39 thousand. Source: AA