According to data from the Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OİB), Turkey's automotive industry achieved exports worth $3 billion in May, marking a 32% increase compared to the same period last year. This represents the highest May export figure to date. The sector maintained its leading position in Turkey's exports with a 14% share.

OİB Chairman Baran Çelik stated that automotive exports continue to grow, noting, "We closed the January-May period with $14.3 billion in exports, maintaining our leadership. We achieved this success despite multiple challenges such as the chip crisis, the war in Ukraine, and supply chain issues. This year, we aim to break the all-time export record with $34 billion. We believe we will reach this target in the second half of the year as the impact of the chip crisis decreases."

In May, significant increases were observed in the exports of buses, minibuses, midibuses, tractors, and the supply industry. Among the top 10 countries, seven saw double-digit growth, while exports to Russia experienced triple-digit growth. The January-May period exports increased by 15% compared to the same period last year, reaching $14.332 billion. During this period, exports to the largest market, EU countries, increased by 22.5%. The largest product group, the supply industry, saw its May exports increase by 40% compared to the same period last year, reaching $1.288 billion. Passenger car exports rose by 26% to $956 million, goods transport motor vehicles exports decreased by 0.5% to $373 million, tractor exports increased by 61% to $187 million, and bus-minibus-midibus exports increased by 110% to $179 million.

In the supply industry, exports to Germany, the largest export market, increased by 34%. Exports to Italy rose by 46%, to France by 41%, to Russia by 169%, and to the United Kingdom by 66%.

In passenger cars, exports to France increased by 19%, to Spain by 70%, to Italy by 61%, to Poland by 49%, and to Belgium by 50%, while exports to Israel decreased by 36%. In goods transport motor vehicles, exports to the USA decreased by 24%, to Slovenia by 28%, to Belgium by 21%, and to Germany by 49%. Exports to the United Kingdom increased by 18%, to France by 61%, and to Spain by 35%.

In the bus, minibus, and midibus product group, significant increases were recorded in exports to Italy and Germany, the leading export countries. In the tractor product group, high export growth was recorded to Germany and France.

Exports to Germany reached $426 million, while exports to France increased by 35% to $411 million, and to the United Kingdom by 24% to $273 million. Exports to Italy increased by 44.5%, to Spain by 57%, to Poland by 32%, to Belgium by 31%, and to Russia by 172%, while exports to Israel decreased by 18% and to Sweden by 22%.

Among country groups, exports to the European Union, which accounted for 67.5% of the total, increased by 33% to $2.046 billion. Exports to other European countries, which held a 10.6% share, increased by 25%. Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States also increased by 102% in May.

Source: OIB, 05.06.2025