West Mediterranean Exports Approached $2 Billion
According to the information compiled from the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the region's exports from January 1 to September 30, which were 1 billion 957 million 564 thousand dollars last year, increased by 0.37 percent in the same period this year.
In the 9 months from the region covering Antalya, Isparta and Burdur, the most exports were made in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. The fresh fruit and vegetable sector, which ranked first with exports of approximately 600 million dollars, was followed by the mining and metals sector with 384 million 964 thousand dollars. The ranking of the top 5 sectors with the most exports consisted of wood products and forestry products, chemical substances, and machinery and equipment.
In the ranking of countries, Germany ranked first with 187 million 514 thousand dollars of exports, China ranked second with 178 million 341 thousand dollars, and Russia ranked third with 170 million 236 thousand dollars.
Year-end target of 2 billion 850 million dollars
BAİB President Ümit Mirza Çavuşoğlu told the AA correspondent that they went through a difficult period in the first three quarters, but had a successful period despite the difficulties.
Çavuşoğlu stated that despite the economic difficulties experienced worldwide, they were able to increase the region's exports slightly compared to last year, saying, "We are very close to the 2 billion dollar limit, we will exceed this limit in a few days. We have a target of 2 billion 850 million dollars for the end of the year, we are making efforts to achieve it."
Çavuşoğlu stated that the Ministry of Trade provided important support to increase exports, and as a union, they also made sectoral commercial visits to countries, and noted that these efforts also gave successful results.
Çavuşoğlu explained that they have reached good export figures this year in markets where they were not very active in previous periods, saying:
"The biggest reason for not experiencing large decreases in exports is new markets apart from existing markets. Deepening has started to be achieved in new markets. Among the most effective places for our region is Saudi Arabia, we are carrying out significant exports. Following that, there are increases in our exports to Iran, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and unexpectedly to Greece. We are progressing towards our year-end goals with firm steps. We want to close the year without experiencing losses."
Sales to 174 countries from 2 thousand 360 exporters
Çavuşoğlu stated that costs are high and this situation weakens competitiveness with other countries. Çavuşoğlu, expressing that more than half of the region's exports were undertaken by the fresh fruit and vegetable, mining and metals, and wood and forestry products sectors, said, "In the 9 months of the year, we realized exports to 174 countries with 2 thousand 360 members. Our number of exporters is increasing."