Minister of Commerce Ömer Bolat made a presentation about the 2027 budgets of his Ministry and its affiliated organizations at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Planning and Budget Commission.
Providing information about the reflections of the geopolitical developments in recent years on the world economy, commodity and energy prices, Bolat pointed out that the Iran-USA-Israel war in the nearby geography added to these difficulties and further aggravated the risks for the world economy and trade.
Bolat stated that, as the Ministry, they are working to protect domestic producers against unfair imports, to continuously increase exports on the basis of goods and services, to increase the efficiency of customs, to ensure that domestic trade operates under stable and fair competition conditions, to strengthen tradesmen and SMEs, as well as to protect consumers, in line with the vision of "Making Turkey's Century the Century of Trade" put forward by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Emphasizing that the export of goods, which was 36 billion dollars in 2002, increased to 273.2 billion dollars in 2025, the highest level in the history of the Republic, Bolat said, "We increased our service exports, which were 14 billion dollars in 2002, by approximately 9 times to 124.9 billion dollars in 2025. Thus, our services trade surplus gave a record surplus of 63 billion dollars, making a significant positive contribution to the current account balance. Our total exports of goods and services are at the last "It has increased 7.9 times in 24 years." he said.
Referring to the October foreign trade data announced yesterday, Bolat stated that annualized goods exports rose to 285.6 billion dollars last month, breaking an all-time record.
Emphasizing that monthly goods exports increased in 31 of the last 42 months and that the monthly goods exports record was broken in 24 of the last 42 months, Bolat said:
"This year, we achieved monthly export increases in 7 of the first 10 months, and monthly export records were broken in 6 of them. Especially since April, we have been breaking monthly export records every month. In the January-October period of this year, 53 of our provinces increased their exports, and 30 of our provinces exported over 1 billion dollars. Our share in world exports, which was 0.55 percent in 2002, increased to 1.04 percent last year. These achievements are the result of Hormuz. "It was achieved despite the tensions caused by the blockade in the Strait, the bombing of ships in the Black Sea, the stagnation in the European Union markets, the hot wars around us and the Israeli genocides in the Middle East."
Bolat stated that the 410 billion dollar goods and services export target announced by President Erdoğan at the beginning of 2026 was exceeded by 413 billion dollars as of October, and said that while they are trying to increase the exports and markets of traditional products, they have also made significant progress in increasing the exports of technology-intensive products.
Stating that the share of medium-high and high-technology product exports in total manufacturing industry exports, which was 30.4 percent in 2002, increased to 43.5 percent by 2025 and 44.3 percent as of October, reaching the highest level of all time, Bolat said, "We support the expenses of companies in our country for improving their international competitiveness, strengthening their export capacities, promotion, marketing and branding abroad." he said.
Bolat reminded that they provided 23.5 billion lira support to 22 thousand 686 goods exporters in 2025, and that the allocated resource increased to 32.8 billion lira in 2026, and stated that they currently provide 21.2 billion lira support to 15 thousand 914 companies.
Stating that they provided nearly 12.5 billion liras of support to exporters this year in service exports, Bolat said that 2 thousand 435 service exporters received 7.4 billion liras of support in 2025, and this support increased to 12 billion liras in 2026.
Bolat stated that 2 thousand 104 companies have currently received 11 billion lira and said:
"With your support and approval, the resource allocated for support for the export of goods and services in 2027 will be 65 billion lira. In addition to these supports, we support our companies with 220 trade consultants and attachés in 167 centers in 114 countries. Turkish Eximbank and Central Bank export rediscount loans make a significant contribution to supporting the financing of our exports. Eximbank, which provided 54.3 billion dollars of financial support last year, has provided 59 billion dollars of financial support this year. "Turkish Trade Bank will increase the financial support it provided from 76.3 billion lira in 2025 to 110 billion lira by the end of this year."
Stating that Export Development Inc. (IGE) has provided 297.7 billion lira of guarantee to SMEs so far and provided the opportunity to use 340.4 billion lira of credit, Bolat said that the daily rediscount credit limit of exporters has been increased to 5 billion lira.
Bolat pointed out that a total of 1.9 trillion liras of rediscount credit was provided to exporters in the last 22 months with the resources of the Central Bank, and said, "Approximately 541 billion liras of interest subsidy was provided. 11 billion dollars of exports were realized from our 19 free zones in 10 months of this year. On the other hand, despite the heavy pressures of the war on energy and commodity prices, our import increase remained limited this year."
Underlining that imports were at an annualized level of 380.8 billion dollars as of October, Bolat said that the increase in energy imports was caused by excessive price increases in world markets, and yet the increase in imports remained behind the increase in exports.
"WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL PRODUCTION"
Bolat stated that last year was closed with a foreign trade deficit of 92.2 billion dollars, and in the January-October period of this year, the annualized foreign trade deficit remained at the level of 95.1 billion dollars, with an additional increase of only 2.9 billion dollars.
Stating that the export-import coverage ratio increased by 0.2 points to 75 percent, despite the negativities in the world's foreign trade and economy, Bolat said:
"We are determined to protect our domestic production and national production against unfair trade elements. At this point, we have measures against 155 dumping and subsidies. We have measures against the ineffectiveness of 118 measures. We do not allow dumped imports to come through other countries. We have surveillance practices in 192 product groups. We have protection measures called 'safeguard' in 10 product groups, and additional customs duties are applied on 4 thousand 618 products. "We contribute to our efforts to protect and develop national production as a foreign trade policy. In 2025, we comprehensively renewed the Risk-Based Control System in Foreign Trade (TAREKS) using artificial intelligence technologies, and an effective inspection is carried out against non-conforming products in imports, and in this sense, extensive cooperation with the Turkish Standards Institute continues."
Referring to the activities carried out in the field of commercial diplomacy, Bolat stated that they are trying to gain new markets with free trade agreements (FTAs) and that the number of these agreements is currently 25, while preferential trade agreements (TTAs) have reached 7.
"Our FTA with the UK is working quite well. Negotiations are continuing to expand it to the services sector." Bolat reminded that negotiations to establish a modern and comprehensive FTA with Canada, in line with the wishes of both parties, will begin in Türkiye at the end of this month.
Minister Bolat stated that they held a total of 256 meetings and meetings with 66 countries and organizations in the 10 months of this year.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU TOWARDS THE EXPANSION OF THE CUSTOMS UNION CONTINUE
Underlining that negotiations are continuing with a broad agenda, including the expansion of the Customs Union with EU countries, which has been going on for 30 years, increasing mutual investments, green and digital transformation, e-commerce, steel quotas, cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation and defense industry, Bolat pointed out that concrete gains were achieved during the year, especially in commercial and economic relations.
Bolat said, "As Turkey, we have managed to maintain our quota share of more than 70 percent at the point of steel quotas, which the European Union reduced by half, and our exports, which are close to last year's figures, are made by our steel producers. They (steel producers) always say that they thank us for these gains in the negotiations." he said.
Bolat also stated that they signed the declaration confirming the compliance of the Machinery Safety legislation with the EU legislation, and noted that as of January 1, machinery products will continue to be offered to the market in accordance with the relevant legislation of the EU.
Pointing out that micro exporters are able to exempt the products they send with the A.TR movement certificate from the 3-euro customs duty applied in the EU, Bolat said that they continue to work on the EU's "Made in EU" policies and the Draft Industrial Acceleration Law.
Bolat stated that Türkiye's Customs Union is considered within the scope of "Made in EU", but the discussions in the EU Parliament and the EU Council continue and continued his words as follows:
"On this issue, we are continuing an intense diplomacy regarding suggestions that may cause future problems in electric vehicles for the Turkish automotive industry and narrow our market opportunities. In the last year, we have had intensive contacts with EU Commission officials and relevant ministers of member countries, rapporteurs of the European Parliament, chairmen and deputy chairmen of groups, in 92 separate meetings. We have held meetings with European companies that have investments in Türkiye. This is the issue we attach most importance to in all our work."
Bolat also mentioned that they are following the additional customs duties imposed by the USA and their effects on global trade, and stated that negotiations are continuing on the additional taxes imposed on sectors such as textile, steel, automotive, food and furniture.
"(THE DECISION TO COMPLETELY STOPPING TRADE WITH ISRAEL) HAS CONTINUED WITH THE SAME SENSITIVITY FOR 2.5 YEARS"
Minister Bolat said that negotiations with China to reduce the foreign trade deficit are continuing and reported that exports to the country in question increased by 48.8 percent in the 10 months of this year.
Pointing out that the measures taken to protect Türkiye's domestic and national car, Togg, were brought to the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Mechanism by China, Bolat said, "In the decision made on July 26, at the end of 2 years of meetings, the Turkish side was found right on the issue of internal combustion engines and hybrid vehicles in favor of China regarding electric cars and technical regulations, and on the exclusion of free trade agreements and the Customs Union." he said.
Bolat said that trade with the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries continues after they started the transit visa regime in April, which allows Turkish truck drivers to reach Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.
Emphasizing that they have completely stopped trade with Israel in terms of customs, ports and free zones as of May 2, 2024, Bolat said:
"This decision has been continuing with the same sensitivity and meticulousness for 2.5 years. We continue to implement the special mechanism we have developed regarding the products requested by the Palestinian government upon the request of urgent needs, in a controlled manner, by giving special approval to the Palestinian and Turkish sides for each product, every month. With a circular renewed by our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Turkish flagged ships are prohibited from going to Israeli ports, and Israeli flagged ships are prohibited from entering our country's coastal facilities. In case of findings contrary to the rules, legal processes will be initiated within the framework of the provisions of the Turkish Penal Code."
SUPPORT OF 907.8 BILLION LIRAS TO TRADESMEN AND CRAFTSMEN IN THE LAST 24 YEARS
Referring to their work in domestic trade, Minister of Commerce Bolat said that they have implemented various regulations such as secure payment, Electronic Listing Verification System and checking deceptive advertisements on social media, especially in the automotive and real estate markets.
Stating that 1.8 million used electronic products were brought into the economy with the renewed product system, Bolat stated that they put an end to the fees charged under the name of "cover", especially in the food and beverage sector.
Stating that 265 licensed warehouse enterprises in agricultural products operate with a capacity of 14.3 million tons at 364 points, Bolat said, "After the occasional amendments of the Market Law enacted in 2012, especially regarding the vegetable and fruit trade, our draft law also provides, with a comprehensive amendment, the establishment of producer unions and producer cooperatives, their greater involvement in markets and markets, and their financial support in establishing markets, enabling them to benefit from exemptions such as taxes and duties." "It has been presented to our Group in the Parliament." he said.
Explaining that 401 thousand 500 businesses and more than 48 million products were inspected across the country this year to prevent exorbitant prices and hoarding in the food, automotive, market, real estate and jewelry sectors, Bolat stated that they imposed a fine of approximately 3 billion lira, 878 million lira within the scope of inspections in domestic trade and 2.1 billion lira within the scope of consumer protection.
Bolat pointed out that 907.8 billion lira of treasury subsidized loans have been provided to tradesmen and craftsmen in the last 24 years.
"RENOVATIONS AT YAYLADAĞI AND CİLVEGÖZÜ CUSTOMS GATES CONTINUE"
Stating that the renovation works at the customs are continuing, Bolat said, "Gürbulak Customs Gate has been renewed. The renovations at the Yayladağı and Cilvegözü customs gates in Hatay continue. We continue to negotiate with the Syrian side for Nusaybin (Nusaybin-Kamışlı Customs Gate). The Bulgarian side started to renew its own customs gate in Kapıkule. We have also taken additional measures." he said.
