DEİK warns of increased competition as China shifts trade routes

A report by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) highlights how China is reshaping its global trade routes in response to additional customs tariffs imposed by the United States. As China’s exports to the US declined from 14.68% in 2024 to 11.14% in 2025, the country has aggressively pivoted toward alternative markets, including Africa, the Middle East, and the European Union.

DEİK President Nail Olpak warned that this shift increases competitive pressure on Turkish exporters, particularly in regions where Turkey has traditionally strong market presence, such as North Africa and the Middle East. Olpak noted that China’s exports to Africa grew by 25.9% and to the Middle East by 9.7% during the 2024-2025 period.

Furthermore, the Belt and Road Initiative could significantly reduce the time it takes for Chinese goods to reach Europe, potentially dropping from 30-45 days to as little as one week. Olpak emphasized that Turkey must do more than just collect transit fees from the Middle Corridor; he urged Turkish exporters to utilize the return journeys of trains traveling from Europe to China by filling them with Turkish products to maintain a competitive edge.