Aegean Region's exports coverage of imports has reached 203 percent

Izmir's foreign trade value is 36.7 billion dollars

İzmir led the exports of the Aegean Region with 23 billion 793 million dollars of exports, while İzmir's imports amounted to 12 billion 928 million dollars. While Izmir's foreign trade volume reached 36.7 billion dollars, the ratio of exports to imports was recorded as 184 percent.

Manisa, which is the 8th most exporting province in Türkiye, succeeded in exporting 7 billion 747 million dollars in 2023. While the foreign trade of Manisa, which has 3.5 billion dollars of imports, reached 11 billion dollars, the ratio of exports to imports reached 221 percent.

Although Denizli, the capital of home textiles, suffered a wound in its exports and imports in 2023 due to the recession in the world, it put forward an export performance of 4 billion 25 million dollars and an import performance of 2 billion 224 million dollars. While Denizli's foreign trade volume was 6 billion 250 million dollars, Denizli succeeded in exporting 181 dollars for every 100 dollars of imports.

Foreign trade volume of Balıkesir exceeded 3 billion dollars

Balıkesir exported 2 billion 284 million dollars worth of goods while its imports amounted to 725 million dollars. While Balıkesir's foreign trade volume exceeded 3 billion dollars, the ratio of Balıkesir's exports to imports was 305 percent.

While Aydın, whose exports are dominated by the Air Conditioning, Mining, Automotive Supply Industry and Agriculture sectors, left the year 2023 behind with an export volume of 1 billion 661 million dollars, it imported 638 million dollars in the same year.

Muğla, which is the export champion in the aquaculture sector across Türkiye, brought 1 billion 189 million dollars of foreign currency to Türkiye in the 100th anniversary of our Republic. Muğla's imports amounted to 465 million dollars and the ratio of Muğla's exports to imports was 256 percent.

In 2023, the exports of Kütahya, the capital of porcelain and ceramic exports, which imported 150 million dollars, were recorded as 855 million dollars. Afyonkarahisar, the capital of natural stone, brought 631 million dollars of foreign currency to Türkiye, while its imports remained at 107.5 million dollars. The ratio of Afyon's exports to imports reached 590 percent and became the record holder among the provinces of the Aegean Region.

Uşak, a powerful player in exports in the textile, carpet and animal products sectors, exported 431 million dollars in 2023, while its imports amounted to 239 million dollars and the ratio of exports to imports was 180 percent.

Exports of the Aegean Region in January amounted to 3.3 billion dollars

The Ministry of Trade shared the export figures for January 2024 according to the provinces of activity. Accordingly, the exports of the Aegean Region increased by 2 percent from 3 billion 240 million dollars to 3 billion 305 million dollars.

While İzmir, Manisa, Balıkesir, Aydın, Muğla, Kütahya and Uşak increased their exports compared to January 2023, Denizli and Afyonkarahisar remained behind their performance in January 2023.

Izmir accounted for 56 percent of the Aegean Region's exports

With an export volume of 1 billion 850 million dollars, İzmir alone realized 56 percent of the Aegean Region's exports. Manisa exported 542 million dollars, representing 16.4 percent of the Aegean Region's exports.

Denizli had a share of 9.5 percent of the Aegean Region's exports, while its export revenue was 314.5 million dollars. Balıkesir became the export growth record holder in the Aegean Region with an export growth rate of 16 percent, while the export amount exceeded 202 million dollars.

Aydın's exports were recorded as 135.4 million dollars, while Muğla's exports increased by 6 percent to 107.7 million dollars. Kütahya increased its exports by 8 percent from 65.5 million dollars to 70.5 million dollars.

Afyonkarahisar's exports decreased from 48 million dollars to 43 million dollars with a 10 percent loss, while Uşak's exports amounted to 39.5 million dollars.

Eskinazi; "Aegean Region continues its exporter identity"

Defining the 42.6 billion dollars of exports from the Aegean Region as a great success in 2023, when the recession in the world economies and the high inflation and low exchange rate spiral in the Turkish economy, Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters' Associations, said that if there is a favorable climate for exports, the exports of the Aegean Region can easily exceed 50 billion dollars.

Emphasizing that exports from the Aegean Region in 2022 were 44.5 billion dollars, Eskinazi stated, "Mehmet Şimşek, our Minister of Treasury and Finance, says, "The main determinant of exports is foreign demand and the exchange rate does not have a significant effect," but our labor-intensive sectors have reached a point where we cannot respond to the demands around the world. If Türkiye wants to eliminate the inequality in income distribution, it has to produce and increase its exports. Today, the wealthiest 20 percent of our country receives 50 percent of the income. There is no middle pole left, and a large part of our population is rapidly becoming poorer. In order to stop impoverishment, we need to increase the number of exporters, the amount of our exports and our average export price."

Highlighting that they direct the exports of the Aegean Region with their projects, Eskinazi said, "In 2024, we aim to bring our exporters together with more importers through sectoral TURQUALITY Projects, URGE Projects, Fairs, Sectoral Trade Delegations and Buyer Delegations. Sustainability, innovation, design, R&D, vocational training will be other topics we will focus on. In the Medium Term Program, Türkiye aims to export 302.2 billion dollars by the end of 2026. As the Aegean Region, we aim to contribute 52 billion dollars to this target."