Professor Fuat Erdal, the vice president of Ibn Haldun University said, despite political tensions, Turkey exports a great amount of goods and services to EU, and economic recovery of the EU member countries will positively affect Turkish exports.
Professor Erdal commenting on the record breaking figures of Turkish exports reminded that EU countries and especially Germany are a great market for Turkey. "If the relations between Turkey and EU progresses positively, it is expected that the economic recovery in those countries will have a positive affect on Turkish exports. But the rising oil prices and the strengthening of the US dollar may increase imports and increase the current account deficit as well." he said. Prof. Erdal emphasized that mineral fuels are the first in Turkish imports with 34 billion dollars, followed by machinery and mechanical equipment worth 21 billion dollars. "Some of the items causing current account deficit are oil products while some are machinery and electronics" he said. Prof. Erdal said while having record high figures in exports, the imports have also rised 17.7 percent and that caused the current account deficit to increase to 76.7 billion dollars. Turkish exports have increased by 16.3 percent in January 2018, compared to last year and reached to 12.2 billion dollars. That figure is the third highest figure for January through the history of Turkish exports. Turkish exports for the last 12 months has increased by 10.1 percent and reached to 158 billion dollars. The total amount of goods exported has also increased by 9.8 percent and reached to 9.7 million tons.
