Member companies of the Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association (BAIB), which includes Antalya, Isparta and Burdur, exported $217 million 933 thousand 694 in the first month of 2024.
BAIB Chairman of the Board of Directors, Umit Mirza Cavusoglu, stated in his written statement that regional exporters had a good start to the new year.
Stating that there was a 2% increase in sales abroad this year compared to January of last year, Cavusoglu stated that they achieved an export of $217 million 933 thousand 694 in the first month of the year.
Stating that fresh fruits and vegetables are the locomotive sector of the region, Cavusoglu noted that the most exports occur in this sector.
Cavusoglu stated that fresh fruits and vegetables, which increased by 7.80% in January compared to the same period of the previous year, were sold abroad for $82 million 957 thousand.
Emphasizing that fresh fruits and vegetables were followed by the mining and metals sector with an increase of 33.35%, Cavusoglu said:
“Exports of $43 million 896 thousand were realized in the mining and metals sector. $23 million 651 thousand of this export consisted of natural stone products. The wood products and forest products sector, which ranks third, succeeded in exporting $24 million 339 thousand with an increase of 25.16%. The chemical sector, which ranked fourth, exported $17 million 692 thousand. Our cement, glass, ceramics and soil products sector ranked fifth on the list with $8 million 230 thousand.”
Record increase in exports to China
Umit Mirza Cavusoglu reported that the highest export in January was to China with $23 million 798 thousand. Pointing out that exports to China increased by a record 50.90% compared to last year, Cavusoglu continued as follows:
“The second place was taken by Germany, with exports of $15 million 615 thousand, with an increase of 3.45%. Germany was followed by Russia with $14 million 983 thousand, Ukraine with $12 million 216 thousand, and Romania with exports of $10 million 855 thousand. When we look at the exports from the Western Mediterranean in January, it is seen that our traditional sectors systematically continue their exports to their traditional markets. Our companies, as well as our association, continue to work to increase their exports in their target markets.”
Cavusoglu stated that it is extremely important that Turkiye’s exports are increasing despite the wars and political instability in neighboring countries.
Underlining that they have carried out important work to increase exports, Cavusoglu noted that they have been organizing sectoral trade delegation visits to different countries for different sectors for the last year, and that they have attended foreign fairs and visited importing companies.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz