'September posts 13-month fastest growth in exports'

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's exports in September showed the fastest growth in the last 13 months, the head of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) announced on Monday.

Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said the country's exports surged by 22.6 percent on a yearly basis to reach its highest-ever September export figure, $14.5 billion.

Pekcan noted that 12-month overall exports also reached a new peak of $165.1 billion.

"This year we closed every month except June and August with [export] records," TIM head Ismail Gulle told a press conference in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

The new figures also said the country's exports in the first nine months of this year totaled $123.1 billion, up 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

On a quantity basis, the amount of Turkey's exports rose 30 percent to 11.2 million tons in September, according to TIM data.

The auto industry remained the leading sector last month, with exports worth $2.6 billion in September, up 21.3 percent year-on-year, followed by chemical products with $1.5 billion, and ready-made garments and apparel with $1.4 billion.

The association said steel exports posted the highest increase last month (95 percent), followed by dry fruit products (65 percent), and other industrial products (53 percent).

Gulle said Germany was the top market for Turkish exports with $1.4 billion, adding that relations with the country will be enhanced.

Germany was followed by the U.K. ($1.1 billion), Italy ($825 million), and Iraq ($722 million).

Turkey's exports to 176 countries and region saw a year-on-year rise in the month.

Exports to Turkey’s main trading partner, the EU, rose 24.7 percent on a yearly basis to reach $7.3 billion in September, making its share of the country's total exports 51 percent, the association said.