Turkey exports hit a September record as deficit shrinks
Turkey overseas shipments set a fresh high for the month. Goods exports reached 25.97 billion US dollars in September, up 15.3% from a year earlier, the second-highest monthly figure on record after December 2025. Imports rose a softer 5.6% to 31.13 billion US dollars, so the trade gap narrowed 25.8% to 5.16 billion US dollars. The export-to-import coverage ratio climbed to 83.4%, up from 76.4% a year earlier.
Manufacturing carries the load
The surge is broad and industrial. Manufacturing made up 93.4% of September exports, and shipments rose in 19 of 26 sectors. Chemicals and chemical products reached 3.06 billion US dollars, electrical and electronics climbed 36.9% to 2.06 billion US dollars, and jewellery jumped 203.3% to 1.51 billion US dollars. Steel added 1.49 billion US dollars. High-technology goods took a 4.1% share of manufacturing exports, above the nine-month average, a sign the mix is tilting up the value chain.
📊 Key figures
September exports: 25.97 billion US dollars (+15.3%)
September imports: 31.13 billion US dollars (+5.6%)
Trade deficit: 5.16 billion US dollars (−25.8%)
Coverage ratio: 83.4% (up from 76.4%)
12-month goods exports: 283.7 billion US dollars (record)
Where the buyers are
Demand is spread across markets. Germany led with 2.05 billion US dollars, the United States followed at 1.91 billion US dollars, up 42% on the year, and the United Kingdom took 1.44 billion US dollars. Iraq and Italy rounded out the top five. Strip out energy and non-monetary gold and the core gap was just 541 million US dollars, with a coverage ratio near 98% — the underlying trade is almost balanced.
| Metric | September 2026 | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 25.97 billion US dollars, +15.3% | Record |
| Imports | 31.13 billion US dollars, +5.6% | Calm |
| Deficit | 5.16 billion US dollars, −25.8% | Narrowing |
| Coverage | 83.4% | Up 7 pts |
The coverage ratio climbed to 83.4%, up from 76.4% a year earlier, and the core gap excluding energy and gold was just 541 million US dollars. -- Turkish Statistical Institute and Ministry of Trade, 28 October 2026
💡 Where the opening is
Read the broad base: 19 of 26 sectors rose, not one winner carrying the rest; compare sectors to find the steady movers.
Follow manufacturing: 93.4% of shipments and a rising high-tech share point to where capacity is building.
Map the markets: Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom lead, with the US up 42%; watch who gains next.
Compare by sector and country: which Turkish product sells where is queryable on Big Trade Data（GTD）.
Turkey export story is broadening, not narrowing. A record month, a shrinking gap and a nearly balanced core trade all point to resilience under soft global demand. Big Trade Data（GTD） covers 200-plus countries and regions, helping you see which Turkish lane is heating up before the rest of the market does. Check the data now, not when the window has closed.