The Ministry of Trade announced that exports from free zones, which amounted to 11.4 billion dollars in 2022, increased by 10.7 percent last year to 12.7 billion dollars. Exports from these regions amounted to 9.8 billion dollars in 2021, 7.7 billion dollars in 2020 and 8 billion dollars in 2019. The Aegean Free Zone exported the most with 2.8 billion dollars, while 5 free zones exported more than 1 billion dollars.
Dr. Faruk Güler, Chairman of the Executive Board of ESBAŞ, assessing the foreign trade performance of both the Aegean Free Zone and the free zones in Türkiye, commented: "While a total of 254 billion dollars of exports were realized through 120 thousand exporter companies in Turkey in 2023, 194 companies in the Aegean Free Zone brought 2.8 billion dollars to the country from overseas sales. According to these data, the Aegean Free Zone exports 14.6 million dollars per company, compared to 2.1 million dollars of export revenue per exporter company across the country.
"This amount equals 7 times the average of Türkiye," Güler added, pointing out that the 10 percent increase in exports from the free zones exceeded expectations. Faruk Güler; "The total trade volume of the Aegean Free Zone increased by 10 percent last year compared to the previous year, reaching over 5.8 billion dollars, while sales from the Aegean Free Zone to foreign countries increased by 13.48 percent, reaching over 2.8 billion dollars. As the sales made from abroad to the region remained at the level of 1.5 billion dollars with an increase of only 1.78 percent, the ratio of exports to imports in the Aegean Free Zone in 2023 was recorded as approximately 180 percent."
Export expansion limited at 6 per thousand
Emphasizing that global trade volume grew at a very low rate of 2.4 percent last year and that some economies, particularly Germany, Türkiye's most important foreign trade partner, went into a recession, Dr. Faruk Güler continued as follows: "Due to the weak global trade, the increase in Türkiye's exports in 2023 was limited to 6 per thousand. The current account balance deficit problem in foreign trade also continues. The ratio of exports covered by the companies in our region to imports was approximately 180 percent. The Aegean Free Zone has been making a great contribution to our country's economy by providing a high foreign trade surplus in this respect for years."
The highest exports are from the Aegean Free Zone
Domestic companies operating in free zones were recorded as 1,563, whereas the number of foreign companies was recorded as 545. Aegean Free Zone exported the most with 2.8 billion dollars, and 5 free zones exported more than 1 billion dollars. Of the total exports from these zones, 52.4 percent consisted of products in the medium and high technology classes. It was indicated that free zones will continue to be transformed into "export outlets" with high production, employment and added value.
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