Turkiye to reach its export target of $250B this year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says
While the share of automotive sector narrowed among the top 10 Turkish exporters, energy firms increased their share in 2021.
The number of energy companies among the top 10 exporters rose to three, but the top two exporters were automotive firms, according to figures released by the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) on Monday.
During its general assembly, TIM said Ford Otosan was Türkiye’s largest exporter last year, followed by Toyota Engine Manufacturing Turkey and petroleum producer Tupras.
Foreign trade company Kibar, major home appliances producers Vestel and Arcelik, automaker Oyak-Renault, energy firms Socar and Habas, and another foreign trade firm TGS were among other top 10 firms in terms of exports.
Automotive firms Tofas and Mercedes, which were on the 2020 list,were replaced by energy firms Socar and Habas.
During the event, Türkiye’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines received a special award in the field of services export.
Export targets
Speaking at the event, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recalled that the country’s exports exceeded $225 billion last year, and in May, Türkiye’s 12-month rolling exports reached $243 billion.
The country’s share in the world trade has reached 1.05% and it will increase month by month, Erdogan added.
About half of Türkiye’s growth in the first quarter of 2022 came from exports, he said, adding that the government is taking firm steps toward its goal of growing the country with investment, employment, production, export and current account surplus.
“These achievements in a process that started with a health crisis and evolved into a security crisis with the war in the north of the Black Sea, triggering the political and global economic crisis, is a source of pride for all of us,” he noted.
He said that the country will be one of the top 10 economies in the world, adding that the country has increased its exports six times and the number of exporters rose by four times over the last 20 years.
Mentioning the country’s export target of $500 billion, he said there is no obstacle in front of doubling the exports.
“The global health crisis, which has been effective for about two and a half years, and the security crisis that followed, made it necessary to reshape the production and supply centers in the world,” he stressed.
Thanks to the strong education, health, transportation, communication, energy, industry and technology infrastructure established in the country over the last 20 years, Türkiye is on the way to becoming one of the world’s leading production and export leaders, he added.
He added that the country will probably reach its export target of $250 billion this year.