Exports from the Turkish automotive industry reached $ 3.14 billion (121.17 billion Turkish pounds) in April, establishing a new summit for this period of the year and recording an increase of 15 % compared to April 2024, according to figures published Monday May 5 by the Association of Exporters of the Automobile Industry of Uludağ (Oi̇b).
Only representing 15 % of total exports of the country, the Turkish automotive industry is consolidating its commercial base, mainly pulled by the equipment and component segment, which has generated nearly $ 1.3 billion alone.
In detail, exports of private vehicles fell 4 % to 895 million dollars, while bus, minibus and Midibus have grown by 9 %, reaching 240 million. Utility vehicles intended for the transport of goods have recorded a spectacular increase of 33 %, for a total of $ 513 million. The trailer truck segment experienced an unprecedented flight of 137 % over a year, reaching 145 million.
The figures unveiled by the OOİB highlight an enlargement of exchanges with a number of European markets, at the forefront of which Morocco, which records an increase of 40 % of imports from the Turkish automotive sector. An increase that is also found in Poland (+39 %), in Belgium (+37 %), Spain (+33 %), Romania (+30 %) and France (+19 %).
“In April, we observed a growth of 33 % of exports of utility vehicles, and 137 % for trailer trucks. Trade flows for Germany increased by 44 %, by 68 % to Poland, and 115 % to Slovenia ”said Mr. Baran çelik, president of the Oi̇b, who stressed that “April has recorded unprecedented figures for this period”.
However, the data reveal disparities according to the segments and the markets. While Germany, the main business partner of Turkey in the automotive field, recorded an overall increase of 21 % in the component category, its imports of private vehicles fell by 19 %. Lases have also been observed in France (–26 %), the Netherlands (–71 %) and Sweden (–45 %). In contrast, sales to Italy (+66 %), Poland (+1200 %), Slovenia (+196 %) and Belgium (+183 %) displayed three figures.
In the field of utility vehicles, shipments to Germany have soared 492 %, to Italy by 141 %, and to Spain by 168 %. Exports of trailers have also jumped in considerable proportions, notably to Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and France.
In the classification of destination markets, Germany remains in the lead with $ 529 million in imported goods, followed by France (355 million) and the United Kingdom (319 million).
For the first four months of the year, exports from the Turkish automotive sector reached $ 12.64 billion, an increase of 6.5 % compared to the same period of 2024. At the same time, national exports of Turkey, all sectors combined, increased by 8.5 %, reaching 20.9 billion dollars in April, which is the second best result recorded for this month.
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