Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri, which contributed USD 9,022 million to Türkiye's exports in the first half of 2025, recorded its largest export increase to African countries. Exports from EİB to African countries rose 29%, from USD 687 million to USD 885 million.
The Aegean Exporters Associations, which contributed USD 9.022 billion to Turkey's exports in the first half of 2025, achieved the largest export growth to African countries. Exports from EEA to African countries increased by 29% from USD 687 million to USD 885 million.
Exports from the Aegean Exporters Associations to African countries rose from USD 1.375 billion to USD 1.466 billion with a 7% increase at the end of 2024. Aegean exporters signaled that if they maintain the export growth rate achieved in the first half of 2025, they could reach USD 2 billion in exports to Africa by the end of 2025.
Cereals, legumes and oilseeds sector leads in exports
In the first half of 2025, the Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association conducted the largest exports to Africa. Having exported USD 198 million to Africa in the January–June period of 2024, ECLOEPA increased its exports by 30% to USD 257 million in the first half of 2025.
The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association advanced its exports to African countries by 127%, from USD 102 million to USD 232 million.
The Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association registered itself on the list as the third sector with the highest exports to Africa at USD 75 million.
North African countries take the lead
Morocco ranked first with USD 200 million in exports from the Aegean Exporters Associations to the African continent. Having imported USD 91.8 million from EEA members in the first half of 2024, Morocco increased its demand by 118% in the same period of 2025. With this increase in demand, Morocco rose from 26th to 13th place among the countries to which EEA conducts the most exports.
The steel sector took the lion's share in exports to Morocco. Steel exports from the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association to Morocco jumped by a record 309%, from USD 34 million to USD 140 million. The Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association followed the steel sector with USD 15 million in exports.
Exports to Egypt, which has become a strong competitor to Turkish exporters in all sectors in recent years due to low labor costs, increased by 40% from USD 121 million to USD 169 million.
Aegean steel exporters increased their exports to Egypt by 53%, from USD 30 million to USD 46 million. Chemical substances exports from the Aegean Region to Egypt increased by 94%, from USD 18.6 million to USD 36 million. Textile sector exports jumped by 200%, from USD 3.8 million to USD 11.6 million.
Exports from the Aegean Exporters Associations to another North African country, Algeria, increased by 28% from USD 119 million to USD 152 million.
The Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association dominated exports to Algeria at USD 110 million. Algeria succeeded in ranking first on the list of countries to which ECLOEPA exports. Chemical exporters from the Aegean Region increased their exports to Algeria from USD 4 million in the first half of 2024 by 255% to USD 14.5 million.
Libya ranked fourth in exports from the Aegean Exporters Associations to Africa in the January–June period of 2025. Exports to Libya increased by 7.5%, from USD 93.5 million to USD 100.5 million. The Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association led in exports to Libya at USD 49.3 million.
Tunisia imported USD 54.5 million worth of goods from Aegean Exporters Associations members in the first half of 2024, while in the same period of 2025, it increased its demand by 45% and imported USD 79 million worth of goods from EEA members. The Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association conducted the largest exports to Tunisia at USD 25 million, while the Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association exported USD 18 million.
Muhammet Öztürk – Chairman, Aegean Cereals, Legumes and Oilseeds Exporters Association
"Africa accounts for 45% of our total exports"
"Africa is the world's second-largest continent with 54 countries and a population approaching 1.5 billion. It is increasing its weight in our export market with each passing day. While our association's exports increased by 14% from USD 500 million to USD 572 million in the first half of 2025, our exports to Africa increased by 30% from USD 198 million to USD 257 million. Africa alone accounted for 45% of our total exports. We believe we will exceed USD 500 million in exports to Africa by the end of 2025. The leading products in our exports were vegetable oils and animal feed. In the first half of 2025, the countries with the highest exports in our ranking were the African countries Algeria, Libya and Djibouti. Africa's growing population and food demand present an important export potential for Turkey."
Yalçın Ertan – Chairman, Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association
"Our goal is to expand our exports across all of Africa"
"Our members at the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters Association achieved great success in the African market in the first half of 2025. Our exports to African countries advanced by 127%, from USD 102 million to USD 232 million. While African countries accounted for 8.5% of our exports in the January–June period of 2024, they now account for 18% in the first half of 2025. North African countries have been our traditional markets for many years. To diversify our export markets and further increase our exports, we are continuing our efforts targeting all African countries. In this context, we are targeting exports of approximately USD 500 million to Africa by the end of 2025."
Ali Fuat Gürle – Chairman, Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association
"We are reaping the benefits of our trade delegations"
"In line with the Ministry of Commerce's Growth Strategy in Distant Markets, we are organizing sectoral trade delegations to increase our exports to the African continent. Between 2–5 August 2023, we conducted a Furniture Trade Delegation to South Africa, the third-largest economy in Africa. Our 18 furniture exporting companies held approximately 150 bilateral business meetings with 30 South African furniture companies. During the Morocco Furniture Trade Delegation on 20–24 December 2023, Turkish furniture exporters met with Moroccan furniture importers in Casablanca and Marrakech.
130 bilateral business meetings were held. Between 7–11 October 2024, we conducted our second furniture trade delegation to Morocco. Morocco is also in a critical position in terms of West African countries. With a 15% market share in Morocco's furniture imports, we are the second-largest supplier after China. Our Turkish companies have various investments in Morocco. Turkish firms have important projects in construction, energy, logistics and tourism sectors. Many of our Turkish furniture companies opened stores in Morocco, and Turkish furniture exporters in that geography surpassed Spain, Italy and France. We are reaping the benefits of the sectoral trade delegations we have organized targeting Africa."
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