Türkiye trade deficit widens to $9B as imports outpace exports

According to Turkish Statistical Institute, exports reached $21 billion in February, marking a 1.5% annual increase, while imports climbed to $30.08 billion, up 5.5% compared to the same month last year.

Manufacturing dominates exports

Industrial goods remained the backbone of Türkiye’s export structure, accounting for 93.8% of total shipments. Agriculture, forestry and fishing made up 4.0%, while mining and quarrying contributed 1.5%, reflecting the country’s continued reliance on manufacturing-led trade.

This composition underscores Türkiye’s strong industrial base, even as global demand conditions remain uneven.

Key partners: Germany and China

Germany was the leading destination for Turkish exports in February, with shipments valued at $1.85 billion. On the import side, China ranked first, supplying goods worth $4.12 billion.

The data highlights Türkiye’s balanced engagement with both European and Asian markets, though reliance on imports—particularly from Asia—continues to weigh on the trade balance.

Two-month deficit widens

In the January–February period, exports declined slightly by 1.3% to $41.36 billion, while imports rose 2.8% to $58.77 billion. As a result, the cumulative foreign trade deficit reached $17.4 billion, marking a 13.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

The figures indicate that while Türkiye maintains steady export capacity, the widening gap is being driven primarily by stronger import growth, influenced by domestic demand and global price trends.