Turkey's First-Quarter Exports Reach $61.6 Billion

According to data compiled from Türkiye İhracatçılar Meclisi (TİM), Turkey's exports in the first quarter rose 2.5% to USD 61.6 billion. This figure represents the highest first-quarter export period on record. In the January-March period, 9 provinces exceeded USD 1 billion in foreign sales, while 28 cities surpassed USD 100 million in exports. During this period, Istanbul led with USD 24.4 billion, followed by Kocaeli with USD 4.55 billion and Bursa with USD 4 billion. Foreign sales by provinces across Turkey declined 1.5% in the first quarter to USD 54.3 billion due to the impact of earthquakes, with Istanbul accounting for the highest exports at USD 24.4 billion. Exports by province in the first quarter (excluding free-zone exports) declined 1.5% to USD 54.3 billion due to the impact of earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. Of 81 cities, 28 recorded increases while 53 recorded decreases. In 3 cities, the decline remained below 1%.

Exports from 9 provinces exceed USD 1 billion

In the January-March period, 9 provinces exceeded USD 1 billion in foreign sales, while 28 cities surpassed USD 100 million in exports. During this period, the highest exports came from Istanbul at USD 24 billion 446 million (up 1.7%), which accounted for 45% of provincial exports. Istanbul was followed by Kocaeli with USD 4.55 billion, Bursa with approximately USD 4 billion, İzmir with USD 3.6 billion, Ankara with USD 2.7 billion, Gaziantep with USD 2.23 billion, Sakarya with USD 1.4 billion, Manisa with USD 1.3 billion and Denizli with USD 1.07 billion. Among provinces with exports exceeding USD 100 million during this period were Hatay, Mersin, Konya, Kayseri, Adana, Antalya, Kahramanmaraş, Tekirdağ, Samsun, Mardin, Eskişehir, Trabzon, Aydın, Balıkesir, Çorum, Şırnak and Muğla.  

Exports grew most in Tunceli and Muş

The highest export increase in the first quarter occurred in Tunceli at 565%. Tunceli's exports rose to USD 822 thousand. Tunceli was followed by Muş at 561% (USD 1.8 million) and Adıyaman at 55.7% (USD 26.3 million). In the first quarter, export increases were recorded at 40.5% in Van, 39.1% in Balıkesir, 32.9% in Sinop, 24.1% in Trabzon, 19.1% in Kırklareli, 18.6% in Karaman, 18.3% in Yozgat, 17.6% in Tekirdağ, 16.7% in Bartın, 15.6% in Eskişehir, 14.9% in Çanakkale and 13.2% in Muğla.

Largest export declines in Bayburt and Yalova

Among provinces with declining exports, Bayburt led with an 83% decline. Bayburt's exports fell to USD 9.4 thousand. Bayburt was followed by Yalova at 78% (USD 18.1 million) and Kırıkkale at 71% (USD 1.5 million). Export declines were recorded at 57.6% in Bingöl, 54.8% in Kastamonu, 51.3% in Osmaniye, 48.6% in Zonguldak, 47.5% in Bitlis and 46.8% in Ağrı. Among the 11 earthquake-affected provinces, export declines were recorded in all cities except Adıyaman and Diyarbakır.   Source