The Ministry of Trade announced the Export Statistics by Provinces for November. While Türkiye’s exports increased by 2.2% in November, rising from USD22.236 billion to USD22.718 billion, the export performance of the Aegean Region diverged from the national trend.
The main factor behind this divergence was that the November export performance of İzmir, Manisa, and Denizli the provinces contributing the most to the Aegean Region’s exports remained below the levels of November 2024.
According to a written statement from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, the Aegean Region’s exports for the first 11 months increased by 1%, rising from USD39.5 billion to USD39.9 billion.
In November, İzmir’s exports fell by 11%.
In November, İzmir achieved exports worth USD1 billion 763 million, remaining 11% below the export figure of USD1 billion 974 million recorded in November 2024. İzmir’s 11 month exports reached USD21 billion 611 million, matching the same period of 2024, and it maintained its position as the third largest exporting province in Türkiye after Istanbul and Kocaeli. İzmir accounted for 54% of the Aegean Region’s total exports.
Manisa’s exports decreased by 9.3% in November and by 3% over the first 11 months.
Manisa, which continues to follow İzmir in the Aegean Region, brought USD608 million into Türkiye in November. The city’s exports decreased by 9.3% in November. Over the 11 month period, Manisa’s exports declined by 3%, falling from USD6 billion 985 million to USD6 billion 778 million.
Denizli’s exports were struck by bad luck in November.
Denizli, the third largest exporting province in the Aegean Region, closed November with an export figure of USD359.6 million. The city fell 1.8% short of its November 2024 export level of USD366.4 million. Although Denizli experienced a decline in exports in November, it achieved a 5.4% increase over the 11 month period, increased from USD3 billion 895 million to USD4 billion 106 million.
Balıkesir will exceed USD2.5 billion by the end of 2025.
Balıkesir increased its exports from USD230 million to USD233 million in November with a 1.5% increase, and over the 11 month period, its exports grew by 2.7%, increasing from USD2 billion 234 million to USD2 billion 294 million. Balıkesir is expected to bring in more than USD2.5 billion to Türkiye by the end of 2025.
Aydın's exports fell in November but remained in surplus for 11 months.
Although Aydın recorded USD176 million in exports in November, he could not prevent a 3.3% decline. In the January-November period of 2025, Aydın achieved a 5% increase in exports, generating USD1.746 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
Muğla became the export growth record holder in the Aegean Region.
Muğla, Turkey’s leader in water products exports, increased its November exports by USD10 million, from USD109 million to USD119 million, and became the top-growing province in the Aegean Region with a 9% export growth rate. Over the 11-month period, Muğla’s exports increased by 8.5%, increasing by USD100 million to reach a total of USD1 billion 271 million.
Kütahya will wait until 2026 to reach its USD1 billion export target.
Kütahya, the capital of tile-making, exported USD78.3 million in November, remaining 4.3% below its November 2024 export level of USD81.9 million. Over the 11 month period, Kütahya increased its exports by 2.7%, from USD858 million to USD881 million, but this suggests that its goal of exceeding USD1 billion in exports has been postponed to 2026.
Afyonkarahisar is the only province in the Aegean Region that increased its exports by double digits in 2025.
Afyonkarahisar, one of the key centers for natural stone exports, increased its November exports by 7%, from USD46.7 million to USD50 million.Over the 11 month period, Afyonkarahisar’s exports grew by 21.6%, increasing from USD633 million to USD770 million, making it the only province in the Aegean Region to achieve double-digit export growth during this period.
Muğla ended Uşak’s two-month streak as the top exporter.
Uşak, which was the top-growing exporter in the Aegean Region in September and October, lost its top spot to Muğla in November. In November, Uşak increased its exports by 8.4%, from USD40.9 million to USD44.4 million, but ranked second in export growth after Muğla. Over the 11 month period, Uşak’s exports rose by 4.7%, from USD406.8 million to USD425.7 million.
Eskinazi: "2026 holds opportunities in the world, let's not miss them."
Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri Coordinator President Jak Eskinazi emphasized that the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Turkey Manufacturing Sector Export Climate Index, which measures the operating conditions in Türkiye's main export markets, stood at 52.4 in November 2025. Despite improvements in export markets, he argued that Turkish exporters are unable to compete in these markets due to the inherent dynamics of the Turkish economy.
Eskinazi pointed out that Türkiye's exports are being sustained by the automotive and defense sectors, and said: “The data from the last two months in the Export Climate Index is at the highest level since May 2024. While economic activity has grown in eight of our top ten export markets, our exports have decreased by 7%. The government needs to interpret these data correctly and take action. It is impossible for us to be competitive with foreign exchange rates that have lagged far behind inflation for three years. If Turkish exporters are relieved from cost pressures during a period when demand is beginning to recover, 2026 could become a year of recovery for exports; otherwise, the negative outlook will deepen further.”
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