The key facts

  • Turkey's exports to BRICS countries in January–September — $18.2 billion (TIM data)
  • Russia — the largest destination ($4.1 billion, −2.5%), China grew by 40.8% to $3 billion
  • The sector leader was the chemical industry ($3.5 billion); Istanbul accounted for $8.2 billion of exports

Volume and dynamics

Turkey's exports to the ten BRICS member states in the first nine months of the year reached $18.2 billion, the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) reported. Overall Turkish exports over the same period grew by 5.2% to $210.9 billion. Exports increased in eight of the ten countries of the bloc; the highest growth was shown by Ethiopia — +79.6%. BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, as well as the recently joined Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE.

Largest destinations

Russia became the largest destination among the BRICS countries, receiving $4.1 billion worth of Turkish goods, despite a 2.5% year-on-year decline. It is followed by the UAE — $3.3 billion (a decrease of 4.12%), Egypt — $3.1 billion (+28.6%), China — $3 billion (+40.8%) and Iran — $1.8 billion.

Sectors and regions

The leader in supplies to the bloc was the chemical industry and chemical sector products — $3.5 billion over nine months. Mining industry exports grew by 33.5% to $2.1 billion (an increase of about $539 million), the jewelry sector shrank by 45% to $1.3 billion, textiles and raw materials grew by 8.7% to $1.2 billion. The five leading exporting provinces — Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Kocaeli and Bursa — together accounted for $12.5 billion of exports to BRICS: Istanbul — $8.2 billion, Ankara — $1.9 billion, Izmir — $1 billion, Kocaeli — $703 million, Bursa — $658 million.