Turkey's 2026 export surge hits record $4.34 bn to France

Turkey’s exports rose sharply in the first five months of 2026, reaching $111.17 bn overall, a 0.3 % increase from the previous year. The trade ministry reported that 21 provinces each exceeded $1 bn in export value and 40 provinces recorded growth, with Istanbul leading at $4.495 bn, followed by Kocaeli, İzmir, Bursa and Ankara.

Exports to France hit a historic high of $4.3405 bn, up 4.9 % year‑on‑year, driven primarily by the automotive sector, which alone accounted for more than $2.1 bn of the total. Other leading sectors to France included ready‑made garments, chemicals, electricity & electronics, and metal products. Istanbul and Bursa were the main Turkish regions supplying the French market.

The ministry also highlighted broader export trends: 14 cities surpassed $1 bn in the January‑March quarter, and the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain remained key destinations. Turkey aims to boost bilateral trade with France to $30 bn by 2030, leveraging the customs union framework.