Turkish Vice President: Total exports of goods and services approach $400 billion

Istanbul, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Turkish Deputy President Gultay Yilmaz announced on Wednesday that the country's total exports of goods and services approached 400 billion dollars in 2025, marking a record high. He affirmed Ankara's commitment to continuing to strengthen its export capabilities and diversify its markets despite current economic and geopolitical challenges.

Speaking at the opening of the MÜSİAD Expo 2026 International Trade Fair in Istanbul, Yilmaz stated that Turkey's goods exports reached 273.2 billion dollars in 2025, continuing their upward trend. On an annual basis, exports reached approximately 280 billion dollars by August 2026. He noted that efforts are ongoing to expand Turkey's commercial presence in Islamic, African, and distant markets.

Yilmaz explained that current geopolitical and military developments in the region continue to negatively pressure global trade forecasts for goods and services in 2026, causing increased logistics costs and inflationary pressures through energy prices. However, he emphasized the resilience of the Turkish economy, attributed to the flexibility of its production base and the diversification of export destinations.

He pointed to the growing macroeconomic indicators compared to 2002, noting that national income rose from 239 billion dollars in 2002 to 1.6 trillion dollars in 2025, with expectations to exceed 1.8 trillion dollars by the end of the current year.

Yilmaz added that the per capita share of national income increased from 3,600 dollars in 2002 to over 18,000 dollars in 2025, with projections to reach 20,000 dollars by the end of the current year.

He highlighted that Turkey aims to strengthen its position in global trade along key axes through railway connectivity and infrastructure projects.

The Turkish Deputy President stressed the robustness of the country's financial indicators, explaining that the budget deficit remains stable at around 3 percent, while the current account deficit hovers below 2 percent, "reflecting the economy's ability to manage external repercussions."

(END) T.A. / H.M.F.