The Aegean Exporters' Associations achieved USD 1.552 billion in exports in March

The Aegean Exporters’ Associations, which repeated its January–March 2025 performance with exports of USD 4 billion 468 million in the first quarter of 2026, achieved an export growth rate of 2% over the past year and increased its exports from USD 18.2 billion to USD 18.5 billion. While Türkiye’s exports declined by 6.4% in March, decreasing from USD 23.4 billion to USD 21.9 billion, the decrease in the exports of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations remained more limited.

Within the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, industrial sectors recorded exports of USD 869 million, while agricultural sectors contributed USD 574 million to exports. The mining sector’s exports were recorded at USD 110 million.

In March, among the 12 exporters’ associations under the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, 9 experienced a decline in exports, while 3 managed to increase their exports.

Iron and fisheries maintained their leading positions

The Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters’ Association maintained its leading position in March with exports of USD 210 million, while the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters’ Association continued to follow the leader with exports of USD 135 million, achieving a 13% increase. With this performance, the latter became the association that increased its exports the most within the Aegean Exporters’ Associations.

The Aegean Minerals Exporters’ Association maintained its third position with exports of USD 110 million, while the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association brought USD 98.6 million in foreign currency to Türkiye.

When analyzing the March export figures of sectors not represented within the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, the chemical sector stood out positively by increasing its exports by 29%, from USD 148 million in March 2025 to USD 190 million in March 2026.

The automotive industry sector also increased its exports by 18%, rising from USD 79 million to USD 93.3 million. The air conditioning sector increased its exports by 10%, from USD 74 million to USD 82 million. The electrical and electronics sector recorded exports of USD 67.3 million, while the machinery sector reached USD 45.5 million.

The cement, glass and ceramics sector, which has had a successful period in 2026, increased its exports by 100% in March, from USD 10.3 million to USD 20.6 million.

Germany, the USA and Italy were the top export destinations

In March, the highest exports from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations were made to Germany with USD 150 million. Although exports to the USA declined by 12%,decreasing from USD 145 million to USD 128 million, the USA maintained its second position. Exports to Italy increased by 9%,increading from USD 105 million to USD 114.6 million.

Exports to Spain from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations increased by 37.5%, from USD 65.3 million to USD 89.8 million. With this demand, Spain surpassed the United Kingdom to become the fourth-largest destination. The United Kingdom, which dropped to fifth place, recorded exports of USD 80.5 million.

The Aegean Exporters’ Associations exported to 193 countries in March, increasing exports to 93 countries, while exports to 100 countries remained below the March 2025 levels.

Exports to Gulf countries decreased by 48%

The conflict that began between the United States, Israel, and Iran and later turned the Gulf region into a hotspot caused a sharp decline in the export figures of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations.

In March 2025, the Aegean Exporters’ Associations exported USD 102 million to Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, and Bahrain. In March 2026, exports to this region decreased to USD 53.3 million. Exports from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations to Gulf countries declined by 48%.

Exports to Saudi Arabia decreased by 28%, decreasing from USD 16 million to USD 11.5 million, while exports to the United Arab Emirates dropped from USD 17.5 million to USD 7.7 million, marking a decline of 55.5%.

Exports from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations declined by 78% to Qatar, 85% to Bahrain, 62% to Oman, 61% to Kuwait, 52% to Iraq, and 11% to Iran.

Aegean Exporters’ Associations exports to Gulf countries

The European Union, the loyal partner of Turkish exporters

When the exports of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations are analyzed on the basis of country groups, exports to European Union member states increased by 10% in March, increasing from USD 722 million to USD 792 million. The share of the EU in the exports of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations increased from 45.5% to 51%.

While the Aegean Exporters’ Associations’ exports to the American continent decreased by 12%, decreasing from USD 201 million to USD 177 million, exports to the African continent declined by 11% to USD 126 million. Exports to Asian and Oceania countries dropped by 14%, decreasing from USD 122.6 million to USD 105.6 million.

The Aegean Region’s exports reached USD 2 billion 310 million 

According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the Aegean Region’s exports amounted to USD 2 billion 310 million in March, remaining 3.2% below the USD 2 billion 387 million  recorded in the first quarter of 2025.

The Aegean Region’s exports in the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 1.2%, falling from USD 6 billion 742 million to USD  6 billion 661 million.

In March, while İzmir and Uşak increased their exports among the provinces of the Aegean Region, exports in 7 provinces declined. İzmir’s exports increased by 4%, rising from USD 1 billion 158 million to USD 1 billion 202 million, and İzmir accounted for 52% of the Aegean Region’s exports. Uşak’s exports increased by 3%, from USD 25 million to USD 25.9 million.

Denizli continued to follow İzmir with exports of USD 389.8 million, while Manisa achieved exports of USD 389.2 million.

Muğla, which had been breaking export increase records every month, experienced a flat trend in March. While Muğla exported USD 101 million in March 2025, it recorded USD 100 million in March 2026.

Among the provinces of the Aegean Region, the sharpest decline in exports in March was experienced in Balıkesir. Balıkesir’s exports decreased by 25%, falling from USD 77.8 million to USD 58 million.

Aydın’s exports declined by 4%, from USD 82.7 million to USD 79.8 million, while Afyonkarahisar’s exports decreased by 12%, falling from USD 33 million to USD 29.2 million. Kütahya generated USD 35 million in foreign currency for Türkiye in March.

Eskinazi: “It is time to turn the current conjuncture into an opportunity”

Evaluating the export performance in the first quarter of 2026, Aegean Exporters’ Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi stated that they completed the first three months of the year with negative export figures and noted that the war in the Gulf played a role in this outcome. Eskinazi said, “However, as Türkiye, we can turn this negative situation into a positive one by utilizing the advantages we have in the global crisis environment. At this point, it is time to turn the current conjuncture into an opportunity.”

Foreign exchange conversion support should be extended for another year

Emphasizing that Turkish exporters and industrialists have been going through difficult times for the past three years due to exchange rate pressure on exports, Eskinazi stated: “It is of great importance to provide some relief to the industrial and export sectors. Mitigating the negative effects on exports of the measures implemented to reduce inflation, which we observe have provided limited benefit, and especially encouraging our exporters will contribute to achieving our targets. In addition, steps such as reconsidering the conditions of the TL 3,500 employment support provided by our Ministry of Industry and announcing in advance that the 3% foreign exchange conversion support provided to exporters by the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, which will expire in April, will be extended for another year, will boost the morale of our exporters and make a positive contribution to our exports.”