We Must Accurately Interpret Opportunities

As we began 2025 with an export target of $280 billion, we have now completed the first four months of the year. We shared our export data for April and our four-month performance with the public in Diyarbakır. In April, we achieved exports worth $20.9 billion, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the same month last year. I must emphasize that the stronger increase relative to the previous three months was partly due to the calendar effect, as we had two additional working days in April.

Our exports for the January–April period reached $86.2 billion, while our exports over the last 12 months amounted to $265 billion. This reflects a 4% increase in the first four months and a 2.7% increase in the 12-month period. We estimate that our service exports for April will be approximately $7.6 billion.

To reach our $280 billion target in goods exports, we must increase our exports by at least 7%. Although we fell short of the desired rate in the first four months, we continue to work tirelessly, day and night, to achieve our goal. This month, we will organize trade delegations to the United States, Spain, Iraq, Albania, Tunisia, and South Africa. I once again invite our companies to participate in these trade delegations, as the element of trust becomes significantly more prominent in times of heightened uncertainty. We must not forget that through face-to-face engagement via these delegations, we can turn the process into an opportunity.  

As the Türkiye Exporters Assembly, we are closely monitoring global developments. In a period of subdued global demand, the tariff tensions between the United States and China further exacerbate uncertainties. These tensions and uncertainties are causing disruptions in supply chains and weakening global growth expectations.

In this period, which encompasses not only risks but also opportunities, we must proceed with heightened caution. I would like to once again share our observations and recommendations, which we have consolidated under seven key points, to minimize the potential damages of this process. 

• We must seek ways to minimize input costs.
• We must diversify our supply chains.
• We must enhance our resilience against external shocks.
• We must focus more on solutions that facilitate access to financing.
• We must strengthen mechanisms that can identify new market opportunities at an earlier stage.
• Rather than reacting defensively to global adversities, we must interpret opportunities accurately.
• We must transform developments into a process through which we can achieve new breakthroughs in exports.

As you are all well aware, due to the issue of input costs, which is the first point on the list, we have faced challenges in competitiveness for the past one and a half years. I firmly believe that if this issue, which we have raised on every platform, is resolved, we will gain fresh momentum in exports and advance towards our targets with greater confidence.