Turkey Trade Deficit Highest in 11 Months

Turkey’s trade deficit widened sharply to USD 11.2 billion in March 2026 from USD 7.2 billion in the same month last year. This marks the largest trade gap since April 2025, as imports advanced 8.2% year-on-year to USD 33.1 billion, driven by higher purchases of capital goods (+7.8%), intermediate goods (+11.2%), and other goods (+249.6%). China remained the top import source, accounting for 14.4%, followed by Russia (10.6%), Germany (7.7%), and Switzerland (4.9%). Meanwhile, exports declined 6.4% to USD 21.9 billion, as sales fell in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (-5.6%) and manufacturing (-6.8%). Germany remained the top export destination, holding an 8.3% share of total outbound shipments, followed by the UK (6.5%), US (6.3%), Italy (5.6%), and France (4.5%). In the first three months of the year, the trade deficit rose to USD 28.7 billion from USD 22.5 billion in the corresponding period last year, as exports fell 3.2% while imports increased 4.7%.

Turkey’s trade deficit widened to USD 11.3 billion in March 2026 from USD 7.2 billion in the same month last year, according to data from the Trade Ministry. This marks the largest trade gap since April last year, as imports rose 8.4% year-on-year to USD 33.2 billion, driven by higher purchases of investment goods (+7.9%), raw materials (+11.5%), and other goods (+249.5%). The largest import sources were China (14.3% of total imports), Germany (7.7%), Russia (6.1%), Switzerland (4.9%), and the US (4.6%). Meanwhile, exports fell 6.4% to USD 21.9 billion, weighed down by lower sales of investment goods (-2.7%), raw materials (-2.6%), and consumer goods (-15.3%). Top export destinations were Germany (8.3%), the US (6.3%), Italy (5.9%), the UK (5.3%), and France (4.5%). In the first quarter of 2026, the trade deficit widened to USD 28.7 billion from USD 22.5 billion a year earlier, as imports rose 4.7% while exports declined 3.1%.

Turkey’s trade deficit widened to USD 9.0 billion in February 2026 from USD 7.8 billion in the same month last year. Imports rose 5.5% year-on-year to USD 30.1 billion, driven by higher purchases of capital goods (+15.8%), intermediate goods (+4.7%), and other goods (+168.3%). China remained the top import source, accounting for 13.7%, followed by Russia (8.3%), Germany (7.3%), Switzerland (5.6%), and the US (4.5%), together making up 39.5% of total imports. Meanwhile, exports increased at a slower 1.5% to USD 21.0 billion, supported by gains in mining and quarrying (+7.3%) and manufacturing, which accounted for 93.8% of total exports. Germany remained the top export destination (8.8%), followed by the UK (5.9%), US (5.9%), Italy (5.3%), and France (4.4%), together comprising 30.3% of exports. In the January–February period, exports fell 1.3% to USD 41.4 billion, while imports rose 2.8% to USD 58.8 billion, pushing the trade deficit up 13.8% year-on-year to USD 17.4 billion.