Aegean Exporters' Associations Reach Highest-Ever Monthly Exports in April

Aegean Exporters Associations reached its highest monthly export figure of USD 1.373 billion in April with a 68 percent month-on-month increase. EİB reached 178 different export markets in April, managing to increase exports to 116 countries and regions. In the January-April period of 2021, EİB generated USD 4.882 billion in foreign currency for Turkey with a 20 percent increase, while exports over the past 12 months recorded a 6 percent increase to USD 13.831 billion.  

EU holds largest share

Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi said, "Of the 178 countries and regions to which we exported in April, we increased exports to 116 of them. In the corresponding period last year, when the pandemic became centered in our largest trading partner, the EU countries, we experienced export increases reaching over 100 percent in April this year. Our exports to the European Union reached a volume of USD 617 million with a 78 percent increase. Thus, we achieved exports to the EU of USD 2.297 billion with a 25 percent increase in the first four months of 2021. In April, our exports to other European countries reached USD 102 million with a 74 percent increase. While our exports to 24 EU countries increased in April, the EU's share in EİB's total exports was recorded as 45 percent, and Europe's share in our exports as 52 percent."

Highest growth of 110 percent to Americas

Eskinazi stated that in April, the largest regional export increase was to the Americas at 110 percent, reaching USD 159 million. "We exported to Middle Eastern countries USD 141 million with a 16 percent increase, to African countries USD 132 million with a 60 percent increase. Products worth USD 73 million were sold to former Eastern Bloc countries with a 67 percent increase. We recorded an 85 percent increase in Free Zones and a 12 percent increase to Turkish Republics," he said.  

EİB increasing market share in Asia

Pointing out that Turkey has USD 50 billion in foreign trade volume with Asia, Eskinazi highlighted that EİB recorded notable increases by raising exports to Asian and Oceania countries by 82 percent in April. "Looking at Far East countries; with the RCEP agreement, and most recently the investment agreement with Iran, China continues to shape its global influence through economics. In April, we experienced a 51 percent increase in exports to China, raising it to USD 33 million. To South Korea we saw a 159 percent increase, to Hong Kong 24 percent, to Taiwan 35 percent. In South Asia, we increased exports to India by 509 percent, to Pakistan by 1118 percent, to Bangladesh by 230 percent, to Sri Lanka by 91 percent, to Afghanistan by 155 percent. In the Asia Pacific region, our exports increased to the Philippines by 110 percent, to Malaysia by 173 percent, to Singapore by 116 percent, to Thailand by 6 percent, to Vietnam by 30 percent."  

Main markets: Germany, USA, United Kingdom

Eskinazi stated that in April, Germany ranked first with USD 140 million at a 46 percent increase, the USA ranked second with USD 98 million at an 87 percent increase, and the United Kingdom ranked third with USD 87 million at an 86 percent increase. He listed EİB's top 10 export destinations as follows: "Italy with a 110 percent increase at USD 82 million, Spain with a 120 percent increase at USD 68 million, France with a 163 percent increase at USD 63 million, Netherlands with a 39 percent increase at USD 57 million, Tunisia with a 613 percent increase at USD 39 million, Belgium with a 162 percent increase at USD 35 million, and China with a 51 percent increase at USD 33 million are among the countries standing out in our exports."  

Which countries saw the largest sectoral export increases?

Jak Eskinazi said, "By sector, the largest export increases occurred: in furniture, paper and forest products to Dubai; in steel to Iraq and Hong Kong; in ferrous and non-ferrous metals to Chile and Mexico; in leather and leather products to Taiwan and China; in ready-made clothing and apparel to Côte d'Ivoire and Hungary; in cereals, legumes and oilseeds to the Republic of South Africa; in dried fruit to Brazil; in mining to Hong Kong; in processed fruit and vegetables to Ireland; in fish and livestock products to Syria and Belgium; in textiles to India, Taiwan and Vietnam; in tobacco to France; in fresh fruit to the USA and Canada; and in olives and olive oil to Ukraine."