Turkey export data: Q1 2026 overview
- Passenger cars are the main export of Turkey at US$2.91 billion in Q1 2026, ahead of refined petroleum at US$2.50 billion and motor vehicle parts at US$2.08 billion, based on TradeInt's records.
- Germany is the largest export destination of Turkey at US$5.46 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at US$3.95 billion and the United States at US$3.83 billion.
- Turkey's export base spans automotive, energy, jewellery, defense, and agriculture, showing a diversified manufacturing economy that serves both European and Middle Eastern markets.
- The Ministry of Trade reported that Turkey's April 2026 exports increased 22.3% year-on-year to US$25.4 billion, led by investment and intermediate goods.
What is the main export of Turkey in Q1 2026? Turkey export data analysis
According to TradeInt's Turkey export data, the main export of Turkey is passenger cars at US$2.91 billion, followed by refined petroleum at US$2.50 billion and motor vehicle parts at US$2.08 billion.
Top 5 Turkey export by products in Q1 2026:
- Passenger cars (HS 8703) - US$2.91 billion: Turkey's biggest export, produced by its large domestic automotive assembly industry.
- Refined petroleum (HS 2710) - US$2.50 billion: fuel processed by Turkish refineries and re-exported to regional markets.
- Motor vehicle parts (HS 8708) - US$2.08 billion: components supplying European carmakers and the aftermarket.
- Goods vehicles (HS 8704) - US$2.01 billion: trucks and commercial haulers, a strong segment of Turkey's vehicle exports.
- Jewellery (HS 7113) - US$1.53 billion: gold and precious-metal articles feeding Middle East and regional demand.
| Rank | 4-Digit HS Code | Product Name | Value (US$) | Value % | Top Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8703 | Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons. | $2,908,888,205 | 4.60% | LAGERMAX AUTOTRANSPORT KFT H 2040 BUDAORS VASUT U 3 УГОРЩИНА |
| 2 | 2710 | Refined petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, other than crude. | $2,496,174,087 | 3.95% | TUPRAS TRADING LTD |
| 3 | 8708 | Parts and accessories of motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705. | $2,082,632,770 | 3.29% | S S P OTOMOTIV SAN VE DIS TICARET |
| 4 | 8704 | Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, including trucks and commercial haulers. | $2,010,859,710 | 3.18% | BARSAN GLOBAL LOJISTIK AS |
| 5 | 7113 | Articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal or clad metal. | $1,532,589,045 | 2.42% | ALMATOVA DILNOZA BAKHTIYAROVNA |
| 6 | 8544 | Insulated wire, cable, and other insulated electrical conductors, whether or not fitted. | $1,201,792,055 | 1.90% | ORBITSCAPE LIMITED |
| 7 | 9300 | Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof, encompassing military and sporting weapons. | $1,070,020,125 | 1.69% | 🔒Unlock Turkey Export Trade Data |
| 8 | 8702 | Motor vehicles designed for the transport of ten or more persons, including buses. | $835,532,232 | 1.32% | FORD TRADING COMPANY LLC |
| 9 | 6204 | Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, dresses, skirts, and trousers. | $772,377,523 | 1.22% | INDITEX S A LELYSTAD BRANCH |
| 10 | 0805 | Citrus fruit, fresh or dried, including oranges, mandarins, lemons, and grapefruits. | $695,337,868 | 1.10% | CELILLER TARIM VE GIDA URUNLERI ITHALAT IHRACAT NAKLIYE SANAYI VE TICA KAZANLI MAH ATATURK BUL NO 38 IC KAPI NO 17 AKDENIZ MERSIN ТУРЕЧЧИ |
Period: January-March 2026
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🚗 Turkey HS 8703 Historical Export Records On TradeInt
Browse transaction-date Bill of Lading entries for Turkey's largest export, passenger cars (HS 8703), with exporter names and destination markets visible in the preview.
Preview here: Turkey HS 8703 vehicle export trade records
Investment goods, machinery, and capital equipment grew 34.9% year-on-year in April 2026, far outpacing the 15.1% rise in consumption goods, according to the Ministry of Trade's April 2026 Economic Outlook.
| Rank | HS Code | Category | 2024 (USD mn) |
2025 (USD mn) |
YoY Change | Jan–Apr 2026 (USD mn) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 87 | Vehicles (excl. railway/tramway) | 32,437 | 36,726 | 13.2% | 11,942 | Largest export category; strong +25.2% in Apr 2026 |
| 2 | 84 | Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances | 25,553 | 25,914 | 1.4% | 8,434 | Industrial machinery; steady growth |
| 3 | 85 | Electrical machinery and equipment | 16,448 | 17,753 | 7.9% | 6,058 | Accelerating; +32.8% in Apr 2026 |
| 4 | 27 | Mineral fuels, mineral oils and distillation products | 16,551 | 15,251 | −7.9% | 4,579 | Declining; re-export of refined products |
| 5 | 71 | Precious stones, metals, pearls | 13,030 | 13,367 | 2.6% | 3,859 | Gold-driven; volatile; −21.8% YTD |
| 6 | 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | 10,920 | 11,214 | 2.7% | 3,826 | Steady; +29.7% in Apr 2026 |
| 7 | 72 | Iron and steel | 10,182 | 10,730 | 5.4% | 3,418 | Modest YTD decline of −3.0% |
| 8 | 73 | Articles of iron and steel | 9,812 | 9,696 | −1.2% | 3,117 | Stable; metalwork and fabricated products |
| 9 | 61 | Knitted and crocheted goods | 10,106 | 9,615 | −4.9% | 2,977 | Textile; losing momentum |
| 10 | 8 | Edible fruits and nuts, citrus peel | 6,295 | 6,210 | −1.4% | 2,389 | Fastest Apr 2026 growth at +52.2% |
The forces behind that shift played out across specific sectors:
- Automotive concentration in industrial hubs: Motor vehicles were the leading export from Kocaeli, Turkey's automotive heartland, at US$1.04 billion in March 2026. This geographic clustering gives Turkey scale advantages that keep vehicles and parts at the top of its export list.
- Defense broke into a premium tier: Turkey signed its first naval export to a NATO and EU member, a warship deal with Romania. Moving from drones into naval platforms signals that Turkey's defense exports are climbing into higher-value, longer-cycle contracts.
- Steel secured its largest market: As the European Union raised steel import barriers in 2026, Turkey negotiated special access. Protecting this corridor matters because the EU absorbs the bulk of Turkey's intermediate-goods exports.
- Agriculture pursued market diversification: Turkey moved to reopen cherry exports to China in 2026. This fits the government's Faraway Countries Strategy, which targets higher export volumes to distant, underpenetrated markets.
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📊 Turkey's 2025 Yearly Global Trade Analysis on TradeInt Platform
Turkey's exports reached a record US$269.7 billion in 2025, led by vehicles, machinery, and electrical equipment. TradeInt's analysis breaks down the top export categories and the concentration behind them.
Read more: Turkey Trade Data 2025 by Country
Turkey export data in Q1 2026: What countries does Turkey export to?
TradeInt's Turkey export data showed that Turkey exports mainly to Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Specifically, Germany led in Q1 2026 at US$5.46 billion, the United Kingdom followed at US$3.95 billion, and the United States came third at US$3.83 billion
The other top destinations of Turkey exports include Italy, France, Spain, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, and the Netherlands.
Turkey export by country in Q1 2026:
- Germany (US$5.46 billion) - the top market, buying vehicle parts, electrical machinery, and goods vehicles from Turkey.
- United Kingdom (US$3.95 billion) - a major buyer of refined petroleum, goods vehicles, and arms from Turkey.
- United States (US$3.83 billion) - a diversified market taking machinery, jewellery, and industrial goods.
- Iraq (US$2.33 billion) - a leading regional destination, buying citrus fruit and consumer goods.
- United Arab Emirates (US$1.87 billion) - a key Gulf market for jewellery and precious-metal exports.
| Rank | Country | Value (US$) | Value % | Top 4-Digit HS Code Exported | List of Top Buying Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | $5,455,816,176 | 8.62% | 1. 8708 2. 8409 3. 8704 | 🔒 Unlock Turkey Export Trade Data |
| 2 | United Kingdom | $3,949,732,223 | 6.24% | 1. 2710 2. 8704 3. 9300 | |
| 3 | United States | $3,832,215,599 | 6.06% | 1. 8411 2. 7113 3. 5702 | |
| 4 | Italy | $3,377,083,225 | 5.34% | 1. 8703 2. 8704 3. 0802 | |
| 5 | France | $2,707,081,252 | 4.28% | 1. 8703 2. 8704 3. 8708 | |
| 6 | Spain | $2,522,870,787 | 3.99% | 1. 8703 2. 8708 3. 8704 | |
| 7 | Iraq | $2,334,365,411 | 3.69% | 1. 0805 2. 1905 3. 1512 | |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | $1,872,960,009 | 2.96% | 1. 7108 2. 7113 3. 2710 | |
| 9 | Romania | $1,834,151,743 | 2.90% | 1. 8708 2. 2710 3. 7213 | |
| 10 | Netherlands | $1,782,369,747 | 2.82% | 1. 2707 2. 6204 3. 7113 |
Period: January-March 2026
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🌍 Who are Turkey's Biggest Trade Partners? Trade Data Analysis by TradeInt
Germany, China, Russia, the US, and Italy dominate Turkey's trade. TradeInt's analysis evaluates each partner's role across imports and exports, with the balance and product mix behind the numbers.
Read more: Turkey Biggest Trade Partners in 2025
Turkey's export map is being actively redrawn in 2026, and the clearest evidence is where the growth is coming from.
The fastest gains are no longer in the established European core but in newer corridors, with Ukraine the standout.
According to Daily Sabah, Turkish exports there rose by US$339.6 million in May 2026 to over US$656 million, the single largest increase to any market. This reflects a demand shift driven by Ukraine's wartime reconstruction needs, which favour exactly the industrial products Turkey specialises in.
A closer look at what is moving in each corridor:
- Ukraine's demand is infrastructure-led: Chemicals led Turkey's exports to Ukraine at US$89.1 million in May 2026, followed by electronics at US$64.3 million and steel at US$52.4 million, as damage to Ukraine's energy and infrastructure systems raised demand for industrial machinery and equipment.
- The Iran war reset Gulf corridors: Turkey's Gulf exports fell sharply after the conflict began in early 2026, but a rebound in Middle East demand has since restored these routes, supporting recovery in destinations such as Iraq and the UAE.
- New corridors are diversifying the base: Beyond Ukraine, Turkey's largest May 2026 export gains came in Slovakia (up US$120.8 million), Morocco (up US$98.2 million), and Norway (up US$71.9 million), a spread that fits the government's stated goal of reducing reliance on any single market.
- Europe still holds the volume: Even as growth shifts elsewhere, Germany remained Turkey's top destination in May 2026 at US$1.71 billion, ahead of the US at US$1.52 billion, keeping the European core central to total export value.
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🇪🇺 Find Out What Turkey Exports to Europe From TradeInt Analysis
The EU shares significantly with Turkey higher-value exports, from vehicles and machinery to steel and precious metals. This article by TradeInt data analysis breaks down Turkey's top export products to European markets across 2025.
Read more: Turkey trade with Europe 2025 — import export analysis
Turkey export analysis: How does Turkey export market perform in 2026?
Turkey's quarterly export value rose from US$65.34 billion in Q1 2025 to US$72.85 billion in Q4 2025, then decreased to US$63.26 billion in Q1 2026.
| Timeline | Value (US$) | QoQ % |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | $65.34B | -4.25% |
| Q2 2025 | $66.14B | 1.22% |
| Q3 2025 | $69.25B | 4.70% |
| Q4 2025 | $72.85B | 5.20% |
| Q1 2026 | $63.26B | -13.16% |
Period: January-December 2025, January-March 2026
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🗂️ Dive Deep Into Global Trade Data Fields and Coverage on TradeInt
See what shipment records, company profiles, and HS-code data are available for over 200 countries, including time ranges, country coverage, and data types across TradeInt's Bill of Lading database.
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According to Turkish Minute, Turkey's exports decreased 3.1% year-on-year to US$63.28 billion in Q1 2026, which the Ministry of Trade attributed to the Iran war and a calendar effect. The conflict, which began in late February 2026, disrupted trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz and raised transport and energy costs for exporters.
The war's impact was concentrated in specific corridors and sectors, which explains the sharp but temporary drop:
- Gulf exports fell sharply: Turkey's exports to Gulf countries decreased about 39% in the first 12 days after the conflict began, with chemicals, food, defense, and apparel the hardest-hit sectors, according to the Turkey Exporters Assembly cited by Turkish Minute.
- Most provinces still grew: Despite the headline decline, 40 of Turkey's provinces recorded higher exports than a year earlier in Q1 2026, and 14 provinces exceeded US$1 billion in shipments, showing the drop was corridor-specific rather than economy-wide.
- Recovery came quickly: The rebound was evident by April, when the Ministry of Trade reported exports increasing 22.3% year-on-year, indicating that Turkish exporters recovered the lost ground within weeks of the disruption easing.
| Category | April 2026 (US$ mn) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate goods | 13,075 | +20.6% |
| Investment (capital) goods | 3,861 | +34.9% |
| Consumption goods | 7,871 | +15.1% |
| Total exports | 25,403 | +22.3% |
The rebound has also improved Turkey's overall trade balance, which is closing after years of widening. The clearest sign is that Turkey's manufactured output now almost fully pays for its non-energy imports, leaving energy as the main remaining source of the deficit:
- The trade deficit narrowed: Turkey's foreign trade deficit decreased 15.6% year-on-year in May 2026 to US$5.61 billion, as exports outpaced imports, based on reporting from Hürriyet Daily News.
- Manufacturing nearly covers non-energy imports: Excluding energy and gold, Turkey's export-import coverage ratio reached 97.5% in May 2026, meaning factory exports almost fully paid for the country's non-energy imports.
- The gain was broad across regions: The province-level data showed exporters recovering across the country, not just in the industrial west, which points to a durable recovery rather than a one-off bounce in a single hub.
How can businesses benchmark competitors with Turkey export data?
Here are some practical ways to apply Turkey export data for competitive intelligence:
- Benchmark a rival's market spread: Look up a competing exporter to see the full list of destination countries they serve, revealing markets you may be missing.
- Gauge a corridor's competitiveness: Count how many Turkish suppliers already ship a product to a given market, so you know how crowded a corridor is before entering it.
- Spot a buyer's supplier switches: Track which suppliers a specific buyer works with over time to identify accounts that may be open to a new source.
- Time your market entry: Review shipment patterns by transaction date to see when demand for a product peaks in a destination market.
Uncover Turkey export data from HS code (2-digit/4-digit) and top partner countries.
Conclusion
Turkey's 2026 export story moved from a sharp Q1 decline to a recovery, with TradeInt's records showing exports easing to US$63.26 billion in Q1 2026 before the market rebounded.
The fastest growth of Turkey export data has since shifted to investment goods, defense, and newer corridors, including Ukraine, Slovakia, and Morocco. With manufactured exports now covering 97.5% of non-energy imports, Turkey's trade balance is steadily closing, a sign that the export base is broadening in both value and reach.
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Frequently asked questions
What are Turkey's major exports?
Turkey's major exports are passenger cars, refined petroleum, motor vehicle parts, goods vehicles, and jewellery, according to TradeInt's Q1 2026 data. Turkey's export base centres on automotive products, energy, and industrial goods, supported by agriculture and defense.
What is Turkey's best export?
Turkey's best export by value is passenger cars (HS 8703), worth US$2.91 billion in Q1 2026, fron TradeInt's trade data. Turkey's automotive assembly industry is the single largest contributor to its export earnings.
What does the USA buy from Turkey?
The United States buys machinery, jewellery, and industrial goods from Turkey, making it the country's third-largest export destination at US$3.83 billion in Q1 2026, based on TradeInt's records. US demand spans both manufactured and consumer products.


