ISTANBUL, September 4, 2026 — Türkiye aims to reach $6 billion in e-export volume by the end of 2026, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said at the opening of the Istanbul Global E-Export Summit (IGEXX 2026).

The summit was organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade in cooperation with the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETİD). Bolat, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe, ETİD President Hakan Çevikoğlu and leading business representatives attended the event.

Türkiye’s economy continues to grow

Bolat said Türkiye has maintained a strong employment performance, with the unemployment rate remaining in single digits for the past 39 months. The rate stood at 8.1% in July.

He also noted that the Turkish economy has recorded positive growth for 24 consecutive quarters, or six years. The economy grew by 2.5% in the first half of 2026, reaching an economic output of approximately $1.7 trillion, according to Bolat.

On inflation, Bolat said the downward trend that began in June has continued, with annual consumer inflation declining to 31.55%.

Goods exports hit record levels

Türkiye recorded monthly goods-export records in April, June, July and August, Bolat said.

Goods exports reached $23.5 billion in August, up 8.1% year-on-year, bringing exports during the first eight months of the year to $185 billion.

Annualized goods exports reached a record $280.3 billion as of August.

E-commerce’s share of trade reaches 19.3%

Bolat highlighted e-exports as one of the key pillars of Türkiye’s export strategy, saying the country is working to strengthen its position in global digital trade.

The share of e-commerce in Türkiye’s total trade reached 19.3%, while its share of GDP approached 7%. The number of companies and sellers engaged in e-commerce reached approximately 650,000 by the end of 2025.

Globally, e-commerce’s share of total retail sales has reached around 20%, while business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce grew 91% between 2019 and 2025 to reach $6.5 trillion.

E-export target markets expanded

Bolat said the number of target markets for Turkish e-exporters was increased from 26 to 35 this year.

Türkiye has also been working with the European Union to reduce the tax burden created by the removal of the e-import exemption. An agreement with the European Commission allows companies to use an automatically generated A.TR certificate through simplified customs declarations, helping ease the tax burden on e-exporters.

The Ministry has so far published approximately 40 guides and manuals covering e-export roadmaps and customs procedures for 25 countries, as well as 28 marketplaces and five digital channels.

The number of companies generating more than $10,000 in annual e-exports increased from 8,132 in 2022 to 11,420 at the end of 2025.

Istanbul ranks first in Türkiye in e-export volume, while apparel and ready-to-wear lead by sector. The United States, Germany, Azerbaijan, Romania and Saudi Arabia are among Türkiye’s leading partner markets.

AI becomes key to digital transformation

Bolat emphasized the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the digital transformation of trade.

More than 6 billion people, equivalent to 73% of the world’s population, are now active in the digital world, while the global digital economy has reached $16 trillion.

He said technologies including AI, the Internet of Things and blockchain are transforming every stage of trade, from production and logistics to pricing, decision-making and marketing.

Türkiye’s internet usage rate reached 92.3% in 2026, while 93.6% of businesses have internet access and 56.5% have their own digital storefronts.

5G reaches 44.5 million subscribers

Bolat also said Türkiye’s 5G service reached 44.5 million subscribers within four months.

The Ministry of Trade views artificial intelligence as a strategic tool for helping Turkish companies access global markets, he said.

Bolat also highlighted the E-Easy Export Platform (E-KİP), launched in 2024 to support e-exports. The platform consists of 12 modules and provides up-to-date information on 26 countries, directing companies toward relevant markets and online marketplaces.

Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök