[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey trade expansion and manufacturing growth

33 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-25 08:51 UTC → 2026-10-26 10:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Since late May 2026, Turkey’s Ministry of Trade has utilized e-export programmes and AI-driven tools to diversify market access. By September 2026, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that annualized exports reached $283.7 billion, surpassing the year-end target of $282 billion. Bolat noted that the share of high-technology product exports has risen to 43.7%. Manufacturing remains a dominant driver. The automotive sector exported ~~over $31.14~~ $31.1 billion in the first nine months of 2026, ~~with tow truck exports specifically rising 25.4% to $1.731 billion. Germany remains~~ a ~~primary market for automotive products, while~~ 3% increase, despite a 6% decline in total production (986,584 units). While automobile production fell 17%, commercial vehicle production grew by 12%. In the ~~United Kingdom and France also remain key destinations.~~ Sakarya region, Toyota led exports, shipping 98,468 of its 143,778 produced vehicles. The ~~chemical~~ textile industry ~~and mining sectors have~~ also ~~seen growth, with mineral exports reaching $5.41~~ contributed $7.16 billion in exports, with the ~~first nine months, a 20.05% increase.~~ EU remaining the largest market and the United States seeing an 18.2% rise. Market diversification is accelerating. While the EU remains a primary ~~partner—with exports to~~ partner, the ~~bloc reaching approximately $81.5 billion from January to September—the~~ United States is a major ~~focus. Officials have set a target~~ focus for ~~bilateral trade with the U.S. to reach $50 billion by 2028, with long-term goals of hitting $100 billion.~~ both textiles and automotive sectors. Agricultural exports ~~have~~ continue to show varied performance; while overall volumes fluctuated, dried fruit exports like figs (up 55.4%) and walnuts (up 40%) saw significant growth. Additionally, exports from Turkey’s 19 free zones reached ~~record levels at $27.1 billion~~ $9.8 billion, a 6.3% increase, with medium-to-high technology products accounting for ~~the first nine months, driven by surges in fresh fruit, vegetables, and aquaculture. However, economic~~ 58.4% of that value. Economic challenges persist. The trade deficit for the first nine months reached $71 billion, and the manufacturing sector faced an industrial production decline of 1.9% in August. Despite these pressures, the August 2026 current account recorded a surplus of $4.1 billion.

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