Turkish exports increase for second straight month

ANKARA

Turkey's exports have increased for a second straight month in March, data from the Exporters’ Assembly of Turkey (TIM) showed Friday.

Turkish exports in March have increased by 2.6 percent year-on-year, according to TIM.

Exports totaled $11.5 billion last month and reached $33.4 billion for the first three months of the year, which represents a decline of 9.8 percent compared with the same period last year, according to TIM.

Turkey’s total exports within the last 12 months stood at $140.3 billion, down by 9.2 percent compared with the previous 12 months.

"The exports data for the month motivated our exporters. In order to continue these successes, we took some important steps for new markets," said TIM president Mehmet Buyukeksi, who has accompanied Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his current visit to the U.S.

The largest volume of exports in March was made by the country’s automotive industry with $2 billion worth, followed by the ready-made clothing sector with $1.5 billion and the chemical materials and products sector with $1.14 billion, according to the data released by TIM.

Exports to the European Union increased by 14.9 percent, while Turkey’s exports to Africa decreased by 6.5 percent in March year-on-year. Its exports to North America decreased by 1.7 percent, and those to the Middle East by 1.6 percent, according to TIM’s data.

Germany, Italy, the U.S., the U.K. and Iraq were the largest export markets for Turkey in March.

The largest increase in the country’s exports among the top 30 markets was seen in the United Arab Emirates with an increase of 482.5 percent, followed by a 252.7 percent increase in Iceland.