Türkiye-OTS trade rises 6.6% to top $10B in seven months

Türkiye's trade with fellow members of the Organization of Turkic States climbed 6.6% year-on-year to reach $10.1 billion during the first seven months of 2026, according to figures released Monday by the Turkish Trade Ministry. The volume marks a nearly twentyfold increase since 2002, when trade with the bloc stood at just $871 million, rising to $16.9 billion by the end of 2025.

Kazakhstan remains top trading partner

Kazakhstan remained Ankara's largest trading partner among member states last year with bilateral exchanges totaling $7.8 billion, followed by Azerbaijan at $4.3 billion, Uzbekistan at $3.1 billion and Kyrgyzstan at $1.6 billion. Trade with observer nations — Turkmenistan, Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — expanded 6.8% throughout 2025 to hit $10 billion, with the January-July period this year recording a further 5.1% rise to $6.1 billion. Combined annualized trade with both full members and observer countries consequently reached $27.8 billion as of July.

Ankara eyes deeper integration via Middle Corridor

The OTS was established in 2009 and adopted its current name at the Istanbul Summit in 2021, with full membership comprising Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan while Turkmenistan, Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status. The ministry highlighted that the eastward shift in global production centers over the past quarter-century had elevated the strategic importance of the Turkic region within international logistics networks. "We will continue with determination to strengthen economic and commercial integration within the Organization of Turkic States, make the most effective use of the Middle Corridor’s strategic advantages and further reinforce the Turkic world’s position in global trade," the ministry said.