Istanbul Exporters’ Association Coordinator President Cem Seven said, “We will continue our contribution to Turkiye’s economy by breaking new export records this year.”
Exports of Istanbul Exporters’ Associations (IIB) increased by 1.1% compared to the previous year in 2023, reaching $11.6 billion.
According to the statement made by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the share of Istanbul exporters, who sold products to the markets of 202 countries last year, in Turkiye’s foreign sales was 5.2%.
Istanbul Exporters’ Association made the most exports in terms of value to Iraq with $793 million. The most poultry, animal products, furniture, paper and forest products were sold to this country.
The other countries where IIB reached the highest export figures were the USA, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.
Cereals, pulses, oilseeds, furniture, forestry and paper products came to the fore in exports to the USA, and hazelnuts and their products, furniture, paper and forestry products came to the fore to Germany. Ships, yachts, services, hazelnuts and their products came to the fore in Norway, and furniture, paper and forestry products, and grains, pulses, oilseeds and their products came to the fore in the United Kingdom.
The furniture industry took the lead in exports
Last year, Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, one of the unions within the IIB, achieved the highest export with $3.7 billion.
Istanbul Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters’ Association (IHBIR) exported $3.6 billion, and Ship, Yacht and Services Exporters’ Association (GYHIB) exported $1.9 billion, Istanbul Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters Association (ISHIB) exported $1 billion, Istanbul Hazelnuts and Products Exporters Association (IFMIB) exported $717 million, Istanbul Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association exported $515.5 million, and Istanbul Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association (KUMIB) exported $257.5 million.
Highest exports to EU countries
Istanbul Exporters’ Associations Coordinator President Cem Seven, whose views were included in the statement, stated that the Istanbul Exporters’ Associations completed the year with an increase and reached a good annual export figure.
Noting that the highest exports among country groups were to EU countries, with an increase of 13% compared to the previous year, Seven gave the following information:
“We recorded an increase of 27.7% in our exports to other European countries, 12.5% to Far Eastern countries, and 16% to North American countries. Our exporters’ presence in different regional markets with their high value-added, quality products has a great share in our export increase. Istanbul exporters had a busy year 2023 with activities aimed at increasing their exports. Last year, our associations participated in 13 fairs held in 10 different countries in Turkiye. In 2023, we organized 10 trade delegations to 8 countries for different sectors and 27 purchasing delegations with buyer companies from different countries.”
Cem Seven stated that IIB increased the number of member companies by 6% in 2023 and said, “We predict that the export increase we achieved in 2023 will continue in 2024. This year, we will continue our contribution to Turkiye’s economy by breaking new export records.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz