April Data Boosted Our Export Morale
Our exports delivered a robust performance in April that made us all proud. We closed last month with exports of USD 25.4 billion, marking a 22.3% increase compared to the same month of 2025. Thus, we reached the highest April export figure recorded to date. At the same time, we achieved the second-highest monthly export performance of all time.
One of the most striking developments in the April data was that all 27 of our sectors closed the month with export growth. This picture was a significant development that elevated our morale. Naturally, factors such as calendar effects and parity contributions also played a role in the increase in the figures. However, the fact that all sectors demonstrated positive performance once again underscored the strength of our production and export capacity.
Our exports to the Gulf countries experienced a notable contraction in March. In April, we observe that the trend has shifted upward once again. Our exports to the region rose by 15.6% to USD 2 billion 365 million. Of course, it is not possible to fully compensate for the loss within a single month. However, I consider the onset of a positive trajectory and the prospect of a rapid recovery as an encouraging development.
The war and risks in global supply chains have once again highlighted Türkiye's geopolitical position. With its proximity to Europe and its strong production and supply infrastructure, Türkiye is once again becoming a key hub for buyers seeking secure and near sourcing. However, to make this opportunity sustainable, we must retain the customers who come here. The way to achieve this lies in restoring and strengthening our competitiveness.
Today, we observe that Türkiye is perceived as expensive in many markets. We encountered this perception once again during our engagements in Romania at the end of April. Demand is, of course, important, but it is not sufficient on its own. We must evaluate demand in conjunction with exchange rates, interest rates, inflation, and the overall cost structure. While some of our sectors can compete strongly on a global scale, we face difficulties in maintaining competitive pricing, particularly in our labor-intensive sectors that have weakened over the past three years. Therefore, we must assess each sector against its own competitors and manage cost and competitiveness dynamics accurately.
In this context, we welcomed the “Türkiye Century Investment Strong Hub Program” announced by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Measures such as strengthening the Istanbul Financial Center, attracting foreign investments to Türkiye, advancing transit trade, and reducing corporate tax are of great value for production and exports. Alongside these positive steps, we believe that new policies and strategies aimed at enhancing our competitiveness must also be implemented swiftly.
The extension of the foreign exchange conversion support for an additional three months was also an important decision for our exporters. We extend our thanks to Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan for this support. However, under current conditions, we must also emphasize the need to further strengthen these supports.
Türkiye stands before a significant window of opportunity. If we act proactively in the post-war period and strongly support the production and export fronts, we can drive our economic growth through production. We believe that at least half of growth should be derived from production and exports. If the right steps are taken in a timely manner, we can make the strong performance achieved in April sustainable and conclude 2026 above the export target of USD 282 billion.