Despite political fall-out with the EU leaders, Turkish exports to EU on the rise

Turkey’s exports have increased for a third straight month in March, data from the Exporters’ Assembly of Turkey (TIM) revealed on Saturday.

The largest volume of exports in March was made by the country’s automotive industry again with $2.7 billion, followed by the ready-made clothing sector with $1.53 billion and the chemical materials and products sector with $1.5 billion, according to the data released.

TIM President Mehmet Buyukeksi:

With the recovering global economy and the support and incentives of our government, Turkey’s exports started to rise again in 2017

Exports to Asia increased by 44 percent and to the European Union by 20 percent, while Turkey’s exports to Holland decreased by 8.5 percent in March year-on-year.

Improving relations with Russia also resulted in increased exports to Moscow by 45.3 percent in March and by 40.3 percent in the first three months.

However, the country’s exports to Iran decreased by 17.1 percent, and those to Egypt by 13.3 percent, according to TIM’s data.

The largest increase in the country’s exports among the top 30 markets was seen in Malta and Portugal with 95.9 percent and 92.1 percent respectively.