Ege Exporters' Association Announces 2020 Export Figures

The Aegean Exporters' Unions, which increased their exports by 14 percent in December to USD 1 billion 257 million, closed 2020 with an export figure of USD 13 billion 4 million. EİB members' agricultural exports increased by 4 percent to USD 5 billion in 2020, while industrial exports reached USD 7 billion. The Aegean Region's exports reached USD 19.6 billion in 2020.

Textiles lead growth in December, fresh produce records 2020 growth

The Aegean Textiles and Raw Materials Exporters' Union achieved the highest export growth in December with a 67 percent increase, earning USD 28 million 648 thousand in foreign currency. Fresh produce exports reached USD 346 million with a 28 percent increase in 2020, while processed fruits and vegetables exports rose to USD 693 million with a 12 percent increase. The Aegean Fresh Produce Exporters' Union achieved USD 1 billion 39 million in exports, recording the highest growth rate of 2020 at 17 percent. EYMSIB's December exports totaled USD 106 million.  

Export champions: ready-made clothing and ferrous and non-ferrous metals

The Aegean Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Exporters' Union and the Aegean Ready-made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Union jointly topped the rankings in 2020, bringing USD 1.3 billion to Turkey. The Aegean Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Exporters' Union's December exports totaled USD 129 million, while the Aegean Ready-made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Union's December exports reached USD 112 million with a 14 percent increase.  

Aquatic products and animal products exports fell short of USD 1 billion

The Aegean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters' Union, which exported USD 103 million in December with a 33 percent increase, raised its 2020 exports to USD 984 million with a 4 percent increase. The Aegean Mining Exporters' Union, which was among the first to feel the pandemic's effects when it emerged in China, its largest export market, in December 2019, recorded USD 931 million in exports in 2020. The union's December exports totaled USD 77 million.  

Grain, legume and oilseed exports surpass USD 500 million

The Aegean Grain, Legume, Oilseed and Products Exporters' Union, which recorded the highest export growth rate in 2019 within EİB, raised its exports in 2020 by 14 percent to USD 505 million. This exceeded the union's USD 500 million export target set for 2020. December exports increased 25 percent to USD 45 million. The Aegean Textiles and Raw Materials Exporters' Union's exports showed a 6 percent increase, closing 2020 with USD 240 million. The Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Union, which earned USD 17 million in foreign currency in December with an 8 percent export increase, reached USD 159 million in 2020 exports.  

Leather sector leaves mark on pandemic through digitalization drive

The Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Union, which made its mark on the pandemic with Shoedex2020, Turkey's and the world's first digital fair for footwear, bags, leather goods and leather apparel sectors, recorded USD 129 million in exports in 2020. In December, it brought USD 12 million in exports to Turkey with a 3 percent increase. Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator Chairman of the Aegean Exporters' Unions, stated: "2020, when the pandemic severely shook the global economy, witnessed numerous significant developments—on one side, the continuation of trade wars, and on the other, the establishment of a new free trade bloc through the RCEP agreement involving 15 Asia-Pacific countries, new measures for supply chains, intensified climate crisis diplomacy, and a new investment agreement between the EU and China. The conclusion of the Brexit process and the signing of the STA between Turkey and the United Kingdom, ensuring the continuity of our trade, has opened the door to a new era in our bilateral relations. All these developments demonstrate that protecting and expanding existing markets, as well as entering new markets where competition changes daily, is possible with the right strategy. Now is the time for change, reform and renewal," he said.  

EİB's 2021 export target is USD 15 billion

Eskinazi, stating that the Aegean Exporters' Unions surpassed 2020 by creating new channels through strong performance in digitalization under the most challenging conditions and through new collaborations, continued: "In 2020, when the pandemic was effective, EİB's export decline was limited to 2 percent. December was particularly a month when 11 out of 12 exporters' unions within EİB increased their exports, with agriculture sectors experiencing 16 percent growth and industrial sectors 14 percent growth. In 2020, we pioneered innovative awareness-raising initiatives by organizing virtual fairs and virtual sectoral trade delegations with both our agricultural and industrial sectors, achieving firsts in Turkey and the world. In 2020, our exporters succeeded in reaching 216 different export markets. We will achieve the USD 15 billion export target we set for 2020 in 2021 through our export strategy centered on digitalization, logistics, R&D, green production, design and innovation."  

Aegean Region's exports reached USD 19.6 billion

According to a compilation from the 2020 provincial export table released by the Turkish Exporters Council, the Aegean Region's 2020 export figure was USD 19 billion 624 million. The Aegean Region's 2019 exports were USD 20 billion 89 million. While Turkey's exports declined by 5.8 percent in 2020, the Aegean Region's export decline was limited to 2.2 percent. İzmir ranked fourth nationally with USD 9 billion 534 million in exports and first among Aegean Region provinces. Manisa, with USD 4 billion 180 million in exports, continued to follow İzmir in the Aegean Region while maintaining eighth place in Turkey's ranking. Denizli raised its 2019 exports of USD 3 billion 185 million to USD 3 billion 191 million in 2020, while Aydın increased its 2019 exports of USD 653 million to USD 660 million in 2020. Balıkesir exported USD 585 million in 2019 and USD 617 million in 2020. Muğla was another Aegean Region province that increased its exports in 2020. Muğla brought USD 554 million to Turkey in 2019 and raised this to USD 592 million in 2020 with a 7 percent increase. Afyonkarahisar, where natural stone and egg sectors serve as locomotives for exports, saw its exports decline by USD 40 million in 2020. Afyonkarahisar, which recorded USD 363 million in exports in 2019, declined to USD 323 million in 2020 with an 11 percent drop. Kütahya raised its 2019 exports of USD 277 million to USD 285 million, while Uşak's exports fell from USD 248 million to USD 240 million.