ORSİAD/Çamur: Bouncing Back Strong Amidst Challenges

The ORSİAD Board of Directors announced that the export data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) had been evaluated, highlighting that Ankara became the 4th highest exporting city in Turkey with 11.5 billion dollars in exports in the first 10 months of the year, stating, "We are proud of our exporters."

President Levent Çamur, on behalf of the OSTİM OSB Industrialists Business People and Managers Association (ORSİAD), evaluated the TİM's export data for October. He emphasized that the export amount for Ankara in October 2023, which was 1 billion 150 million 936 thousand dollars, showed a remarkable increase of 31.4% compared to the same month last year, reaching 1 billion 512 million 203 thousand dollars. President Çamur stated that the total exports of Ankara increased from 9 billion 940 million 142 thousand lira in the first 10 months of last year to 11 billion 418 million 681 thousand dollars this year, marking a 14.9% increase, and said, "This table demonstrates the success and determination of Ankara's industrialists in exports."

Regarding the countries and sectors which received the highest exports from Ankara in the first 10 months of this year, President Levent Çamur noted, "The United States ranks first again. We exported a total of 871 million dollars to the U.S. in the first 10 months of last year, and this year we increased our exports during the same period by 46.2%, achieving exports worth 1 billion 273 million 765 thousand dollars. The second country we exported the most to this year is China. Our exports to China, which were 675 million 591 thousand dollars during the same period last year, rose by 29.8% to 877 million 67 thousand dollars this year. The third country we exported the most to is Germany; however, our exports to Germany have decreased compared to last year. In the first 10 months of 2023, our exports to Germany amounted to 761 million 43 thousand dollars, and this year during the same period, it fell by 17.1% to 630 million 837 thousand dollars."

ORSİAD President Levent Çamur reported that Ankara's highest exports by sector were again in chemicals and related products. He stated that the chemical exports, which stood at 1 billion 358 million 772 thousand dollars in the first 10 months of 2023, increased by 11.1% to 1 billion 509 million 466 thousand dollars in the same period this year. Continuing, President Çamur said, "Despite a 2.4% decrease compared to the same period last year, the second sector in which we exported the most was machinery and equipment. Our machinery exports in the first 10 months of 2023 were 1 billion 510 million 336 thousand dollars, which decreased to 1 billion 473 million 727 thousand dollars this year. The third sector where we made the most exports, with a minor 0.3% decrease compared to last year, was the automotive industry. Our exports, amounting to 1 billion 180 million 229 thousand dollars in the first 10 months, decreased to 1 billion 176 thousand 537 dollars this year. The most significant decline occurred in the leather and leather products sector, with a drop of 66.4%. This sector's exports decreased from 99 million 633 thousand dollars in the first 10 months of last year to 33 million 429 thousand dollars this year."

ORSİAD President Levent Çamur emphasized that it is commendable that Ankara achieved 1 billion 150 million 936 thousand dollars in exports in October 2023 and, one year later, in October 2024, increased exports to 1 billion 512 million 203 thousand dollars, marking a serious increase of 31.4%. He reminded that the total exports of Ankara increased from 9 billion 940 million 142 thousand lira during the first 10 months of last year to 11 billion 418 million 681 thousand dollars this year, reflecting a 14.9% increase. He added, "Ankara has become the 4th highest exporting city in Turkey, surpassing İzmir and Gaziantep, following Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Bursa. We are continuing to progress towards being the capital of industry as well. Despite all the challenges experienced worldwide and in our country, our exporters do not deviate from their determination and efforts to work and produce. Of course, the contraction in the export market negatively affects our members and industrialists. The uncontrollable increase in costs, difficulties in accessing financing, and stagnant foreign exchange rates weaken our competitive power on the international stage. Our hope is for all these issues to be swiftly resolved. Regardless of the conditions, we wholeheartedly commend all our colleagues and employees who work with dedication and produce."