By Burhan Sansarlioglu
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkiye's exports to Israel hit an all-time high in the first quarter of this year with the backing of the steel sector.
According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency, exports to Israel rose 37.2% year-on-year to $1.8 billion from January to March, thanks to recent normalization steps.
Some $470.8 million of the figure was generated from steel exports in the first quarter.
Upon the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid a two-day official visit to Turkiye on March 9-10.
President Herzog was the first Israeli leader to visit Turkiye since 2008, which President Erdogan called the visit "a new turning point."
Israel became the ninth-largest recipient of Turkish exports during this period.
The steel industry was followed by chemicals and products with $200 million, ready-made clothing and apparel with $155.9 million, cement glass ceramics and soil products with $133.7 million and the automotive industry with $132.3 million.