Turkey’s June 2026 Export Surge and Revised Import Regime Boost Trade

Turkey’s June 2026 foreign‑trade data showed exports rising 21.8 % year‑on‑year to about $25 billion, while imports grew 23.1 % to $35.3 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $10.3 billion. In the first half of the year total exports reached $136 billion (+3.6 %) and imports $189.2 billion (+4.6 %). Manufacturing, especially textiles and machinery, remained the main export driver, with the Denizli region alone contributing strongly and sending $2 billion to Germany.

The Trade Ministry also revised the 2026 import regime, adjusting roughly 150 sub‑categories among 15 000 products. Duties on key production inputs were lowered or exempted, while limited tariffs were raised on goods where domestic capacity is high, reflecting a “Balanced Trade, Local Production, Strong Industry” strategy.

Service exports continued to grow: May 2026 service export hit $122.2 billion (+3.2 %), driven by travel revenues of $60.1 billion and transport services of $42.7 billion. Overall goods‑plus‑services trade totalled $395.7 billion.

The “Distant Countries Strategy” delivered exports to 18 non‑EU markets worth $14.3 billion (+12.2 %), with the United States leading at $6.97 billion and Nigeria showing the fastest growth (+62.4 %).

Automotive exports in the January‑June period fell 5 % to $5.984 billion, though the sector’s total six‑month export value reached a record $20.8 billion (+4 %). France remained the top auto‑export market at $1.134 billion.