While Turkiye’s exports to the Middle East and Gulf countries reached $26.7 billion in the January-October period, the highest export was to Iraq with $7.8 billion.
According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), exports to the Middle East and Gulf countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan and Yemen, amounted to $26.7 billion in the 10 months of the year.
Bilateral trade with Middle Eastern countries, which are among Turkiye’s traditional markets, continued effectively in the 10 months of this year. The high demand for Turkish products continued with the steps taken in the field of mutual trade and investment with the countries in the region.
Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek, who had contacts with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Saudi Arabia within the scope of the Gulf countries program last month, said, “We explained the investment opportunities in our country to more than 200 investors and representatives of the financial world in the Turkiye: Your Resilient Partner program.”
In the January-October period, the highest export among the Middle East and Gulf countries was to Iraq with $7.7 billion. Iraq was followed by the UAE and Israel with $4.4 billion each, Iran with $2 billion, and Saudi Arabia with $1.8 billion.
In the same period, exports of $1.3 billion were made to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), $1.1 billion each to Syria and Lebanon, $716 million to Yemen, and $591.6 million to Qatar, $579.8 million were made to Jordan, $454.8 million to Kuwait, $248.1 million to Oman, $122.9 million to Bahrain and $103.9 million to the State of Palestine.
Thus, the highest January-October exports of all time were made to TRNC and Palestine. Despite the geopolitical risks and tensions in the region, it was seen that Turkiye continued to strengthen its commercial relations with Palestine.
Cereal and chemical sectors came to the fore
The “cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products” and “chemical substances and products” sectors made the most exports to the Middle East and Gulf geography in the 10 months of the year, with $3.7 billion each.
These sectors were followed by jewelry with $2.6 billion, steel with $2.3 billion, furniture, paper and forest products with $1.9 billion.
When we look at the provincial distribution of exports to the Middle East and Gulf countries in this period, Istanbul took the lead with $11.8 billion. With this amount, Megakent shouldered 44.2% of foreign sales to the Middle East and Gulf countries.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz