Turkey's trade minister reports record export growth and a $1.6 trillion economy

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said Turkey’s economy has expanded to about $1.639 trillion and that the country is pursuing an export‑driven growth model. He highlighted that total goods and services exports reached $396 billion last year and that the government is targeting $410 billion in exports by the end of 2026.

Bolat noted that May saw a daily export peak of $2.428 billion – a record for a single day – and that the export‑to‑import coverage ratio rose to roughly 80 percent. Imports fell 10.7 percent in May, narrowing the trade deficit by 15.7 percent over the first five months of the year. Unemployment stayed below 10 percent, with the rate at 8.2 percent in April.

He also emphasized Turkey’s resilience amid global shocks, citing strong public‑bank support and a financial system that has remained stable for 23 years. The minister called for continued focus on high‑technology product exports, which now account for 44 percent of the export basket.