Ministry of Economy, Zafer Caglayan, stated that Turkey’s exports increased by 18.2% in 2011, reaching $134.6 billion. In 2011, major export partners of Turkey were Germany, Iraq, Italy, the United Kingdom and France, respectively.
The leading industry in overall exports in 2011 was automotive industry with an export volume of $20,4 billion, which grew by 17,4%. The second biggest export industry was chemicals with an export volume of $16,3 billion increasing by 28,9%. It was followed by ready-to-wear industry which increased by 10,7% to $16,2 billion.
Minister Caglayan noted that in 2002 only 5 cities, namely İstanbul, Bursa, Izmir, Ankara and Kocaeli, had an export volume over $1 billion, while this number of cities with an export volume over $1 billion reached to 15 in 2011.
Caglayan also said Turkey realized over $1 billion of exports to 28 countries, and over $500 million of exports to 47 countries.
In 2008, the number of export companies was 48 144, while that number increased to 52 225 in 2011.
