Turkish automotive exports fall 17% in May while overall export volume rises

Turkey’s automotive sector exported US$3.264 billion in May 2024, a 17 % drop from the same month a year earlier, according to the Uludağ Automotive Exporters Association. Despite the decline, the sector retained its position as the leading contributor to national export, accounting for 16.8 % of total exports. Germany remained the top destination with US$526 million, followed by France, and the European Union received about 75 % of automotive shipments.

The association attributed the May slowdown to a reduced number of working days, while noting that the sector’s cumulative export for January‑May grew 2.6 % year‑on‑year to US$17 billion. In parallel, provincial export data released by the Trade Ministry showed that Çorum’s May export reached US$436 million, a 21 % decline year‑on‑year, bringing its five‑month total to US$2.046 billion. Istanbul led nationwide with US$4.495 billion in May, down 13.7 % YoY, while Kocaeli and İzmir also posted significant figures. Overall, 21 Turkish provinces recorded exports above US$1 billion and 40 provinces increased their export volumes during the first five months of 2024.