‘‘Turkey Will Continue to Be A Pioneer in Exports’’

Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) announced export figures for the month of August. Turkey’s exports amounted to 12 billion 463 million US Dollars in August 2020.

While eight sectors reached the highest export in August in their respective history, exports to 85 countries increased by 516 million US Dollars. Every sector has managed to export to 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

‘‘We Are Getting Stronger Step By Step and Surpassing The Troublesome Pandemic Outbreak’’

TIM President İsmail Gülle stated the following on the subject, ‘‘Even under these difficult conditions, our exporters carried out export operations at a level very close to August of the last year. When observed from the global trade point of view, it is seen that the exports of our country follow a positive course compared to most countries. We are surpassing the troublesome pandemic outbreak that surrounded and devastated the whole world in a stronger fashion systematically. Turkey will continue to be a pioneer in export and growth figures through its strong investment, production, and export infrastructure.’’

Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) announced the provisional foreign trade data for the month of August. According to the General Trade System (GTS), the total exports amounted to 12 billion 463 million US Dollars in August, a 5.7 percent decrease compared to August of last year.

Evaluating the recent developments in global trade, TIM President İsmail Gülle indicated the following statements on the issue, ‘‘We are in a period where different variables affect the whole global trade. International organizations still maintain the expectation that the biggest contraction will occur in 2020 after World War II. In August, the Covid-19 outbreak continued to spread unabated. This uncertainty, which arises with the increase in the number of cases in our target markets, causes fluctuations in our exports. However, our exporters carried out export operations at a level very close to August of last year even under these difficult conditions. Our export figures in the last three months, which were realized during the normalization period, demonstrate that we are rapidly adapting to the needs of the new era.’’

‘‘Our export figures are positive compared to most countries’’

Stating that, in the first two quarters of 2020, the Turkish economy reached the growth figure above expectations, Gülle continued his statement as follows, ‘‘In the first quarter of 2020, our country achieved to be the country with the highest growth rate among both OECD countries and G-20 countries with a growth rate of 4.5 percent. The second-quarter data, in which the impact of the pandemic considerably increased, also shows that Turkey exhibited a positive performance compared to many countries. In the second quarter of this year, the USA contracted 31.7 percent, the United Kingdom 22.8 percent, Spain 22.2 percent, France 19.2 percent, and the European Union countries contracted on average 14.1 percent. In the same period, our country’s economy performed above expectations and faced a contraction of 9.9 percent. All these data reveal the success of our country in the growth model based on production and exports. When observed from the global trade point of view, it is seen that the exports of our country follow a positive course compared to most countries.’’

Exports to 85 countries increased by 516 million US Dollars

Turkey, despite the negative outlook in global trade, managed to increase exports to 85 countries in August by 516 million US Dollars. In 51 of these 85 countries, the increase was above 10 percent, while in 22 of them the increase was more than 50 percent. Among these countries, the following attracted attention: the USA with an export increase of 64.2 million dollars, Belgium with an increase of 59.3 million dollars, and Israel with an export increase of 35.7 million dollars compared to August last year.

Ready-to-wear industry takes the lead

The leading sector of the month of August was the Ready-to-Wear industry with an export volume of 1 billion 546 million US Dollars, while the Automotive industry was the second with exports of 1 billion 545 million US Dollars, and Chemical Substances came third with exports of 1 billion 375 million US Dollars.

Every sector exported to 14 countries

In August, exporters managed to raise our country’s flag in 207 countries. The top 3 countries with the highest exports were Germany with 1 billion 210 million US Dollars, England with 989.2 million US Dollars, and the USA with 739.6 million US Dollars. While the share of the top 10 countries in exports was 50 percent, this share increased to 67.3 percent in the first 20 countries.