Aegean Exporters' Associations' Annual Exports on the Rise

Aegean Exporters Unions' Annual Exports on the Rise Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of Aegean Exporters Unions, stated that exports in the last 12-month period increased by 25 percent, rising from USD 12 billion 816 million to USD 16 billion 24 million. Eskinazi said that they thus achieved their target of raising exports from USD 15 billion to USD 16 billion by the end of 2021, reaching the goal 43 days ahead of schedule. Stating that the industrial sectors achieved the largest share in exports with USD 9 billion 331 million, Eskinazi said, "EİB industrial product exports in the last 12-month period achieved a growth rate of 36 percent, rising from USD 6 billion 862 million to USD 9 billion 331 million. Of the EİB's USD 3.2 billion export increase in the last 12 months, industrial sectors accounted for USD 2.5 billion." Pointing out that Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Union provided the largest contribution to industrial product exports with USD 2 billion 121 million export performance, EİB Coordinator President Eskinazi noted that Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Union was the only union to exceed USD 2 billion. Saying "After our iron sector, the chemical sector, which is not represented by an exporter union under the EİB umbrella, achieved exports of USD 1 billion 779 million," Eskinazi stated, "This export figure once again demonstrates the need to establish Aegean Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Union within the Aegean Exporters Unions. Our Aegean Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters Union also increased its exports by 13 percent, raising them from USD 1 billion 293 million to USD 1 billion 462 million, and maintained its strong position." Emphasizing that agricultural sectors have been strongly represented in the export pattern throughout the 82-year history of Aegean Exporters Unions, Eskinazi noted that agricultural sectors within EİB exceeded USD 5 billion for the first time in 2020, and Aegean agricultural exporters achieved USD 5 billion 632 million in foreign sales with a 12.3 percent performance increase between 20 November 2020 and 19 November 2021, surpassing their USD 5.5 billion export target set at the beginning of 2021. EİB Coordinator President Jak Eskinazi reported that Aegean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters Union increased its exports by 34 percent over the last year, becoming the leader in food exports with USD 1 billion 275 million in exports and at the same time the record holder for export growth among the 7 agricultural exporter unions under the EİB umbrella. Eskinazi noted that Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Union is the co-leader with USD 1 billion 165 million in exports, and Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters Union is the third strongest sector with USD 847 million in exports. Explaining that Aegean Mining Exporters Union, which is Turkey's leader in natural stone exports, increased its exports by 13 percent in the last 12-month period, rising from USD 938 million to USD 1 billion 60 million, Eskinazi added that they entered 2022 with confidence thanks to their export successes.