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According to provisional data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the Trade Ministry, exports rose 2.9 percent year-on-year to reach $25.62 billion in July. The performance marked the highest-ever export total for any July in the republic’s history while standing as the second-highest monthly figure on record after December 2025. Trade Minister Omer Bolat reviewed the statistics in an accompanying statement that highlighted resilience amid external pressures.
The same TurkStat figures placed imports at $32.97 billion after a 5.1 percent increase from the prior year. This faster import growth widened the foreign trade deficit by 13.6 percent to $7.34 billion for the month. The export-to-import coverage ratio slipped to 77.7 percent from 79.4 percent in July 2025 as a direct consequence of the imbalance.
Cumulative data from the ministry showed that exports for the first seven months of 2026 totaled $161.54 billion following a 3.4 percent year-on-year gain. Imports over the January-to-July period climbed 4.7 percent to $222.09 billion while the trade deficit expanded 8.3 percent to $60.55 billion. Annualized exports stood at $278.5 billion through July after a $9.2 billion increase that reflected the same 3.4 percent growth rate.
Bolat stated that exports remained resilient despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, increasingly difficult international conditions, rising protectionism and weak external demand. He added that the ministry will continue strengthening Türkiye’s export potential through financing, export support, guidance and the activities of its overseas organisation. “We will continue working with all our strength in the coming period to exceed the Medium-Term Program export target of $282 billion” Bolat said.
TurkStat breakdowns listed Germany as the leading export market in July with shipments valued at $2.04 billion. The United States followed with $1.68 billion, the United Kingdom with $1.35 billion, and both Iraq and Italy with $1.11 billion each. On the import side China accounted for $5.04 billion, Russia for $3.23 billion and Germany for $2.52 billion according to the same official tallies.
Manufacturing goods represented 94.4 percent of total exports during the month per the TurkStat assessment. High-technology products made up 4.4 percent of those manufacturing exports. The institute’s historical series confirms that July 2026 surpassed all earlier July totals while trailing only the December 2025 peak of roughly $26.3 billion.
