The key facts

  • The average value of Turkish exports per kilogram reached $1.73, and $2.11 excluding cement and marble
  • Defense industry: $61.5 per kilogram, pharmaceuticals — $25, ships and yachts — $14, automotive — $9
  • The share of medium-high and high technologies in exports grew from 30.4% ($10 billion) in 2002 to 43.7% ($112 billion) by the end of 2025

Growth in export value per kilogram

Türkiye's Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated on the second day of Türkiye Innovation Week (TIW) in Istanbul that the average export value per kilogram had reached $1.73 as of September. Excluding high-tonnage and low-value goods such as cement and marble, the figure stood at $2.11 per kilogram. According to him, in the defense industry the value reached $61.5 per kilogram — 39 times above the average, in pharmaceuticals — $25, in the ship and yacht sector — $14, and in the automotive sector — $9. The export value of ready-made garments, according to the minister, ranged from $80 to $100 per kilogram.

Share of high-tech exports

Bolat reported that the share of medium-high and high-tech goods in total exports was 30.4% in 2002, or $10 billion, and by the end of 2025 had reached $112 billion, or 43.7% of exports. He stated that Türkiye had entered a new era focused on R&D, innovation, branding, design and added value. The goal, he said, is to increase exports of labor-intensive products where the country has a competitive advantage, while simultaneously increasing exports of high value-added products.

Innovation Week and the AI theme

The 13th Türkiye Innovation Week began on Thursday and continued on Friday. The event is organized by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) under the theme 'Humanity 6.0'; Anadolu serves as its global communications partner. Bolat noted that this year's forum is devoted to the question of how humans will use artificial intelligence systems and how the revenues generated by AI will be distributed more fairly. According to him, it is projected that AI will account for 40% of global trade by 2040.

Export figures and investments

The annual target for exports of goods and services is set at $410 billion; according to the minister, as of September the figure on an annualized basis had already reached $409 billion. Turkish exports in September grew 5.2% year-on-year, reaching $283.7 billion, exceeding the annual target. Bolat also stated that over the past 23 years Türkiye has significantly increased R&D spending, the number of patent applications and its academic potential, including growth in technoparks, specialized production zones, industrial and design centers. He emphasized that the country maintained economic stability despite regional conflicts, rising protectionism, rising commodity prices and the domestic counterterrorism campaign, achieving growth for 16 years, with a national income of $1.7 trillion and $18.3 thousand per capita. A fund of $30 billion has been allocated for the development of technology and high value-added production under the HIT-30 high-technology investment program and the investment-and-commitment-based advance credit scheme, using tax incentives, grants and low-interest financing.