Turkey Trade Gap Narrows in April

Turkey’s trade deficit narrowed to $8.5 billion in April 2026 from $12.1 billion in the same month last year, confirming preliminary data. This was the smallest trade gap since January, driven by strong export growth that far outpaced the rise in imports. Exports surged 22.3% year-on-year to $25.4 billion, mainly driven by the manufacturing sector (22.0%), followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (20.3%), and mining and quarrying (24.5%). Turkey’s main export partners were Germany (8.3%), the US (6.3%), the UK (5.7%), Italy (5.3%), and Spain (4.1%). Imports rose 3.1% to $33.9 billion due to higher imports of intermediate goods (5.6%) and capital goods (1.6%), which offset a 6.8% drop in consumer goods. The top sources of imports were China (13.2%), Russia (13.0%), Germany (7.0%), the US (5.5%), and Italy (4.0%). In the January-April period, the trade gap widened to $37.1 billion from $34.6 billion a year ago, with imports (4.3%) rising more than exports (3.0%).

Turkey’s trade deficit narrowed to USD 8.5 billion in April 2026 from USD 12.1 billion in the same month a year ago, according to preliminary data from the Trade Ministry. This marks the smallest trade gap since January, amid a double-digit growth in exports that significantly outpaced the increase in imports. Exports surged 22.3% year-on-year to USD 25.4 billion, driven by higher sales of raw materials (20.6%), consumer goods (15.1%), and capital goods (34.9%). Germany remained the top export destination, followed by the US, Italy, England, and Spain. Imports rose 3.1% to USD 33.9 billion, amid increased purchases of raw materials (5.6%) and capital goods (1.6%), which offset a decline in consumer goods imports (-6.7%). China remained the leading source of imports, followed by Russia, Germany, the US, and Italy. In the first four months of the year, the country's trade gap widened to USD 37.2 billion from USD 34.6 billion, as imports (4.3%) rose more than exports (3.0%).

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%.