Türkiye's annual exports hit record $270.6 billion despite global headwinds

Türkiye's export economy has achieved a significant milestone, with annual foreign sales reaching an all-time high despite challenging global economic conditions. Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced in Ankara on Thursday that the country's exports over the last twelve months totaled a record $270.6 billion. This achievement underscores the resilience and growing international footprint of Turkish industry, a central pillar of the nation's economic strategy.

November figures show steady growth

The latest monthly data for November shows continued positive momentum. Exports for the month amounted to $22.7 billion, marking a 2.2% increase compared to the same month last year. Minister Bolat noted this growth was achieved despite a negative calendar effect, indicating underlying strength in external demand for Turkish goods. The cumulative figure for the first eleven months of the year stands at $247.2 billion, representing a 3.7% rise year-on-year, with nine of those months recording an increase.

Trade deficit remains a focus alongside export success

While export performance is a key success metric, the data also revealed a continued trade deficit, a structural issue policymakers are working to address. Imports in November rose by 2.6% to $30.5 billion, resulting in a foreign trade gap of $7.8 billion for the month. Over the January-November period, the total trade deficit reached $82.5 billion. The government's medium-term economic program includes targets to narrow this gap by boosting exports further and enhancing the value-added composition of production.

Strategic context and Türkiye's economic vision

This record-breaking export performance is not an isolated event but part of a deliberate national strategy. Türkiye has been aggressively diversifying its export markets, signing new trade agreements, and investing heavily in sectors like defense, automotive, and green technology to move up the value chain. The government's focus on transforming industrial zones and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises aims to make this export growth sustainable. For a conservative publication like Yeni Şafak, this data validates the country's pursuit of economic independence and its rising status as a pivotal manufacturing and trade hub bridging Europe and Asia.