Aegean Exporters' Associations recorded USD 18.505 billion in exports at the end of 2025, representing 6.75% of Türkiye’s total exports of USD 273.434 billion. The Aegean Exporters' Associations last decreased below the 7% threshold in 2009.
The share of the Aegean Exporters' Associations in Türkiye’s exports has gradually declined because requests to establish exporters’ associations in the automotive, chemicals, and renewable energy sectors after 2000 have not been realized.
In the early years of the Republic, exporters from the Aegean region accounted for more than 80% of Türkiye’s exports. In later years, as companies in Istanbul and other Anatolian cities expanded their export activities, Aegean exporters continued to increase their export volumes, but their share in Türkiye’s total exports gradually decreased.
Aegean Exporters' Associations held an 18% share in 1980
In 1980, the Aegean Exporters' Associations generated USD 523 million in exports, largely driven by the dried fruits, tobacco, and textile sectors, accounting for 18% of Türkiye’s total exports of USD 2.91 billion.
The Aegean Exporters' Associations maintained a share above 10% of Türkiye’s exports until 2000. In that year, Türkiye’s exports totaled USD 27.2 billion, while the Aegean Exporters' Associations contributed USD 2.6 billion, bringing their share down to 9.5%.
Aegean Exporters' Associations has not reached 10% for a quarter century
Over the quarter century since 2000, the Aegean Exporters' Associations have not reached a double-digit share in Türkiye’s exports in any year.
In 2009, Türkiye exported USD 97.05 billion, while the Aegean Exporters' Associations brought USD 6.385 billion in foreign currency into the country, accounting for 6.6% of Türkiye’s exports. In the following 15 years, the Aegean Exporters' Associations maintained a share above 7% of Türkiye’s exports.
Lowest level recorded in 2008
After 2000, when its share in Türkiye’s total exports began to fall below 10%, the Aegean Exporters' Associations recorded USD 7.977 billion in exports during the 2008 crisis, representing 6.2% of Türkiye’s $127.6 billion exports, marking the lowest level.
In 2011, the Aegean Exporters' Associations exceeded USD 10 billion in exports for the first time, reaching USD 11.399 billion, which represented 8.4% of Türkiye’s USD 135 billion exports that year.
In 2015, Türkiye achieved USD 143.8 billion in exports, while the Aegean Exporters' Associations accounted for USD 10.45 billion, corresponding to a 7.2% share.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Aegean Exporters' Associations recorded USD 13 billion in exports, representing 7.7% of Türkiye’s USD 169.5 billion exports.
Eskinazi: “Sectors driving exports are not represented within EIB”
Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters' Associations, stated that the organization’s exports increased more than sevenfold, rising from USD 2.6 billion in 2000 to USD 18.5 billion by the end of 2025. He emphasized that the main reason behind the decline in EIB’s share of Türkiye’s exports is that the exporters’ associations established in six sectors after 2000 are headquartered in **Istanbul and Ankara.
Eskinazi noted that Türkiye’s exports were recorded in 20 sectors until 2000, adding:
“After 2000, exporters’ associations were established in the machinery, HVAC, defense and aerospace, jewelry, steel, and ship, yacht and services sectors. However, our efforts to establish exporters’ associations in the automotive and chemicals sectors, which have recently been driving our exports, have not produced results. Export figures of companies operating in these sectors in the Aegean Region cannot be recorded by the Aegean Exporters' Associations. Therefore, there has been a relative decline in Aegean Exporters' Associations' share of Türkiye’s exports.
According to export statistics by province published by The Ministry of Commerce,the Aegean Region’s exports have reached USD 44 billion, maintaining a 16% share in Türkiye’s total exports.
Our request is to establish new exporters’ associations within the Aegean Exporters' Associations in the chemicals, automotive, electrical-electronics, and renewable energy equipment sectors. If these associations are established, the export figures recorded by the Aegean Exporters' Associations will reach USD 30–35 billion.”
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