That dollar amount reflects a 41.4% increase compared to $180.9 billion five years earlier during 2019.
Year over year, the overall value of Turkish exports flatlined by a 0.6% upturn from $254.2 billion in 2022.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Turkish lira depreciated by -319.7% against the US dollar since 2019 and declined by -43.9% from 2022 to 2023. (2023 was the latest date for which exchange rate data was available on article publication date.) Türkiye’s weaker local currency makes its exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive for international buyers.
Türkiye’s biggest export products by value in 2023 were refined petroleum oils, cars, jewelry, automotive parts or accessories, and trucks. In aggregate, those major exports account for 18.2% of overall exports sales from Türkiye. That comparatively low percentage suggests a relatively diversified range of exported goods.
Historically recognized as a go-to exporter for rugs, Türkiye also ranks among the leading nations for exporting trucks and jewelry.
Türkiye’s Best International Trade Customers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 52.4% of products exported from Türkiye were bought by importers in: Germany (8.2% of the Turkish total), United States of America (5.8%), Iraq (5%), United Kingdom (4.9%), Italy (4.8%), Russia (4.3%), France (4%), Spain (3.8%), United Arab Emirates (3.4%), Netherlands (3.1%), Romania (2.7%) and Poland (2.3%).
From a continental perspective, 56.8% of Türkiye’s exports by value was delivered to European countries while 25.6% was sold to Asian importers. Türkiye shipped another 8.4% worth of goods to buyers in Africa.
Smaller percentages went to North America (7%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia, Marshall Islands and New Zealand.
Given Türkiye’s population of 86.3 million people, its total $255.8 billion in 2023 exports translates to roughly $2,950 for every resident in the Middle Eastern country. That per-capital amount lags the average $3,000 for 2022.
Türkiye’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Turkish global shipments during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Türkiye.
- Vehicles: US$30.8 billion (12.1% of total exports)
- Machinery including computers: $25.2 billion (9.9%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $16.4 billion (6.4%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $15.4 billion (6%)
- Gems, precious metals: $13.6 billion (5.3%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $10.6 billion (4.1%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $10.3 billion (4%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $10.1 billion (3.9%)
- Iron, steel: $8.9 billion (3.5%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $8 billion (3.1%)
Türkiye’s top 10 exports accounted for under three-fifths (58.4%) of the overall value of the country’s global shipments.
Gems and precious metals was the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 33.7% since 2022. Gold was the leading driver for this category’s increase.
In second place for improving export sales was vehicles which rose 15%.
Türkiye’s shipments of electrical machinery and equipment posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 12% year over year.
The leading decliner among Türkiye’s top 10 export categories was the metals iron and steel, posting a -39.4% reduction.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Türkiye’s Most Valuable Export Products further down below.
Products Generating the Greatest Trade Surpluses for Türkiye
The following types of Turkish product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: US$9 billion (Down by -9.5% since 2022)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $6.4 billion (Down by -11.1%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $6.1 billion (Down by -11.4%)
- Fruits, nuts: $4.11 billion (Up by 6.1%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $4.07 billion (Down by -6.3%)
- Vegetable/fruit/nut preparations: $2.9 billion (Up by 2.9%)
- Textile floor coverings: $2.73 billion (Down by -0.5%)
- Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $2.67 billion (Down by -13.1%)
- Cereal/milk preparations: $2.4 billion (Up by 0.9%)
- Miscellaneous textiles, worn clothing: $2 billion (Down by -19.8%)
Türkiye has highly positive net exports in the international trade of clothing and accessories. In turn, these cashflows indicate Türkiye’s strong competitive advantages under the related product categories.
Products Causing the Biggest Trade Deficits for Türkiye
Overall Türkiye incurred a -US$106 billion deficit on all products for 2023. That amount reflects a -3.2% decrease from the -$109.5 billion in red ink one year earlier during 2022.
Below are exports from Türkiye that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Türkiye’s goods trail Turkish importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$52.7 billion (Down by -34.3% since 2022)
- Gems, precious metals: -$20.3 billion (Up by 52.9%)
- Machinery including computers: -$15.7 billion (Up by 32.1%)
- Iron, steel: -$15.3 billion (Up by 11.3%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$12.5 billion (Up by 59.3%)
- Organic chemicals: -$8 billion (Down by -17.7%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$5.6 billion (Down by -24.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$4.5 billion (Up by 24.3%)
- Cereals: -$3.3 billion (Down by -29.3%)
- Copper: -$3.2 billion (Up by 10.8%)
Türkiye has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits under the mineral fuels including oil category, notably for processed petroleum oils, coal and petroleum gases.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Türkiye’s competitive disadvantages in the international fossil fuel market, but also represent key opportunities for Türkiye to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Türkiye’s Major Export Companies
Based on Forbes Global 2000 rankings, the following companies are examples of leading Turkish companies.
- Koç Group (industrial conglomerate)
- Sabanci Holding (automotive, banking)
- Turkcell (mobile phones)
- Enka (construction services)
- Anadolu Efes (brewery, non-alcoholic drinks)
Global trade intelligence firm Zepol lists the following firms exporting from Türkiye.
- Anadolu Dokum San (cast iron/steel articles)
- Cevikler Dis Ticaret (monumental/building stone)
- Evimteks Dis Tic Ve Paz (woven fabrics, facial tissues)
- MCE Cargo (steam condensers, plywood)
- Ulus Metal San Ve Tic (chain sprockets, transmission components, auto parts)
Searchable List of Türkiye’s Most Valuable Export Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Türkiye during 2023. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2022.
| Rank | Türkiye's Export Product | Value (US$) | YOY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Processed petroleum oils: | $13,057,028,000 | +5.5% |
| 2 | Cars: | $9,350,959,000 | +23.5% |
| 3 | Jewelry: | $8,169,939,000 | +2.6% |
| 4 | Automobile parts/accessories: | $6,542,891,000 | +10.6% |
| 5 | Trucks: | $5,544,328,000 | +1.3% |
| 6 | Gold (unwrought): | $1,051,002,000 | +311.9% |
| 7 | Insulated wire/cable: | $3,648,039,000 | +1.1% |
| 8 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet): | $3,781,501,000 | -4.9% |
| 9 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet): | $2,759,552,000 | -2.6% |
| 10 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures: | $2,455,473,000 | +7.4% |
| 11 | Refrigerators, freezers: | $2,455,473,000 | +7.4% |
| 12 | Miscellaneous furniture: | $2,615,169,000 | -1.4% |
| 13 | Public-transport vehicles: | $2,472,474,000 | -3.7% |
| 14 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet): | $1,485,616,000 | +56% |
| 15 | Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods: | $2,661,889,000 | -13% |
| 16 | Textile floor coverings, carpets | $4,209,812,000 | -45.2% |
| 17 | Tractors: | $2,286,847,000 | -3.1% |
| 18 | Electrical converters/power units: | $1,882,468,000 | +13.3% |
| 19 | Piston engine parts: | $1,518,813,000 | +32.7% |
| 20 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet): | $1,760,992,000 | +12.1% |
| 21 | Aluminum bars/rods: | $2,028,500,000 | -3.8% |
| 22 | Rubber tires (new): | $2,383,632,000 | -21.5% |
| 23 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips: | $1,848,985,000 | -1.4% |
| 24 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs): | $2,075,666,000 | -12.4% |
| 25 | Miscellaneous nuts: | $1,623,956,000 | +4.3% |
| 26 | Carbonates, percarbonates: | $1,535,400,000 | +4.3% |
| 27 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers: | $1,618,191,000 | -2.5% |
| 28 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries: | $1,482,881,000 | +3.2% |
| 29 | Wheat, meslin flour | $1,398,952,000 | +6.8% |
| 30 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet): | $1,497,903,000 | -1.6% |
| 31 | Medication mixes in dosage: | $1,403,453,000 | +1.5% |
| 32 | Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: | $1,225,516,000 | +11.4% |
| 33 | Hydraulic cements: | $1,898,969,000 | -28.1% |
| 34 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes: | $1,663,042,000 | -18.1% |
| 35 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps: | $1,922,813,000 | -30.4% |
| 36 | Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections: | $1,386,776,000 | -5.7% |
| 37 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): | $1,617,649,000 | -19.2% |
| 38 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: | $1,200,101,000 | +4.2% |
| 39 | Other than warp-knit fabrics: | $1,747,220,000 | -28.4% |
| 40 | Monument/building stones, art: | $1,287,999,000 | -3.2% |
| 41 | Stockings, hosiery (knit or crochet): | $1,384,245,000 | -11% |
| 42 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates: | $1,335,126,000 | -9.2% |
| 43 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items: | $1,371,001,000 | -14.5% |
| 44 | Washing machines: | $1,185,046,000 | -1.3% |
| 45 | Dried shelled vegetables: | $1,002,368,000 | +15.6% |
| 46 | Fresh or dried citrus fruit: | $1,076,850,000 | +6.5% |
| 47 | Linens: | $900,575,000 | +24.9% |
| 48 | Liquid pumps and elevators: | $1,353,019,000 | -16.9% |
| 49 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: | $965,931,000 | +15.6% |
| 50 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits: | $1,187,905,000 | -7.8% |
| 51 | Trailers: | $933,109,000 | +14.2% |
| 52 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: | $957,237,000 | +10.8% |
| 53 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors: | $890,464,000 | +14.9% |
| 54 | Taps, valves, similar appliances: | $982,404,000 | +3.1% |
| 55 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners: | $845,796,000 | +16.1% |
| 56 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: | $876,081,000 | +11.2% |
| 57 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: | $686,983,000 | +36.7% |
| 58 | Machinery parts: | $769,394,000 | +20.8% |
| 59 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses: | $757,772,000 | +21.28% |
| 60 | Air conditioners: | $786,335,000 | +16.5% |
| 61 | Pasta, couscous: | $859,029,000 | +6.1% |
| 62 | Sugar confectionery (no cocoa): | $964,539,000 | -5.9% |
| 63 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips: | $795,701,000 | +14% |
| 64 | Ligneous fiberboard including wood | $1,255,642,000 | -27.9% |
| 65 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): | $834,355,000 | +7.8% |
| 66 | Vulcanized rubber items: | $1,826,051,000 | -51% |
| 67 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics: | $763,063,000 | +16.3% |
| 68 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations: | $884,985,000 | -0.1% |
| 69 | Turbo-jets: | $841,811,000 | +4.5% |
| 70 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings: | $731,319,000 | +18% |
| 71 | Poultry meat: | $808,934,000 | +5.8% |
| 72 | Corn: | $1,089,127,000 | -25.4% |
| 73 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers: | $257,396,000 | +213.4% |
| 74 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding: | $803,915,000 | +0.2% |
| 75 | Air or vacuum pumps: | $908,864,000 | -11.9% |
| 76 | Copper wire: | $679,734,000 | +16.1% |
| 77 | Miscellaneous machinery: | $777,284,000 | +0.4% |
| 78 | Synthetic filament yarn: | $674,949,000 | +15.2% |
| 79 | Wheat: | $850,159,000 | -11.6% |
| 80 | Base metal mountings, fittings: | $174,217,000 | +328.7% |
| 81 | Olive oil: | $728,125,000 | +1.5% |
| 82 | Other organic cleaning preparations: | $338,442,000 | +116.6% |
| 83 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips: | $615,476,000 | +18.47% |
| 84 | Blood fractions (including antisera): | $716,837,000 | -0.04% |
| 85 | Sort/screen/washing machinery: | $556,177,000 | +27.1% |
| 86 | Whole fish (fresh): | $665,355,000 | +5.6% |
| 87 | Silver (unwrought): | $642,621,000 | +8.1% |
| 88 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges: | $688,645,000 | +0.5% |
| 89 | Unglazed ceramic flags, tiles | $568,482,000 | +20.3% |
| 90 | Yarn wash/clean/iron machines: | $1,061,973,000 | -35.7% |
| 91 | Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry: | $740,130,000 | -8% |
| 92 | Electric generating sets, converters: | $664,122,000 | +2.1% |
| 93 | Marble, other monumen t or building stone | $690,187,000 | -2.6% |
| 94 | Coated/laminated non-wovens: | $645,312,000 | +3.3% |
| 95 | Other food preparations: | $767,071,000 | -13.2% |
| 96 | Men's suits,trousers (knit or crochet): | $529,423,000 | +24.9% |
| 97 | Grapes (fresh or dried): | $740,744,000 | -12.1% |
| 98 | Central heating boilers: | $654,788,000 | -0.9% |
| 99 | Men's shirts (not knit or crochet): | $588,584,000 | +10% |
| 100 | Iron and steel tubes, pipes: | $634,957,000 | +0.7% |
These 100 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$165.8 billion or 64.8% by value for all products exported from Türkiye during 2023.
In macroeconomic terms, Türkiye’s total exported goods represent 7.7% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2023 ($3.321 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 7.7% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2023 exceeds the 7.8% one year earlier. Those percentages suggest a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for Türkiye’s total economic performance.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. Türkiye’s unemployment rate averaged 10.282% for 2023, up from an average 9.925% jobless rate one year earlier according to statistics from the International Monetary Fund.
Türkiye’s capital city is Ankara.
See also Top Turkish Trade Balances, Türkiye’s Top Trading Partners and Türkiye’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 23, 2023
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 23, 2023
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 23, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Türkiye. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on March 23, 2023
Zepol’s Company summary highlights by country. Accessed on March 23, 2023