Sustainable Growth is Impossible Without Competitive Strength
We are traversing a period in which the global economy is shaped by uncertainty and competitive conditions intensify by the day. A wide range of factors, from geopolitical risks and rapid shifts in trade policy to cost pressures and financial conditions, directly influence the decision-making processes of our exporters, and in such an environment, preserving our production and export capacity while deepening in existing markets and securing new ones requires greater effort than ever.
The November export data offers a clear picture of our periodic performance. In November we realized exports valued at 22.7 billion dollars, marking a 2.2 percent increase compared with the same month last year. Thus, our 11-month exports reached 247.2 billion dollars, while our 12-month rolling exports climbed to 270.6 billion dollars. We recorded growth of 3.7 percent over 11 months and 3.5 percent on an annual basis. The parity effect contributed 843 million dollars to our exports last month, with 3.7 percent of the 22.7 billion dollars realized stemming from parity gains. I must also underscore that 14 of 26 sectors posted negative figures in November, indicating that the challenge of broadening our export base persists while only a few sectors such as automotive, chemicals, and defense have assumed a locomotive role in recent periods.
We have consistently maintained that production and exports constitute the foundation of sustainable growth. Yet over the past year we have faced a different configuration in growth dynamics. The Türkiye economy, which recorded 3.7 percent growth in the third quarter, preserved its 21-quarter streak of expansion, a notable achievement indeed; however, the data reveal that growth has been driven predominantly by domestic demand, while net exports have dragged growth downward for the past four quarters.
If we aim to reverse this trajectory and once again make production and exports the engine of growth, we must regain our competitiveness. There is no need to stretch the mathematics; the reality we encounter on the ground is unmistakable. We are struggling to sell goods in global markets because, alongside our products, we are effectively attempting to export our inflation, something the global market simply does not accept. Therefore, it is imperative to implement measures that will swiftly alleviate the cost pressures weighing on production and exports.
As global trade undergoes restructuring, protectionist tendencies are also rising. A report by the World Trade Organization indicates that the trade volume subject to tariffs in G20 countries has quadrupled within a year. In addition, the transition period for the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is ending, and on 1 January 2026, reporting obligations for our cement, aluminum, electricity, steel, and fertilizer sectors will commence. It is critically important for our companies to finalize their preparations this month to avoid complications in their delivery processes.
Despite all challenges, we never succumb to pessimism. We recognize that difficult periods also harbor opportunities, and we continue our efforts accordingly. Our collaborations to reduce logistics costs offer a concrete example. Following our agreements with Turkish Airlines, we signed a highly significant protocol with DHL Express in November, enabling our companies to ship products to 28 countries for three months with discounts of up to 61 percent, with the possibility of extending the period if needed.
Likewise, our search for new markets continues at full speed. In November we organized delegations to China, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Ghana, and in December we will conduct programmes in Senegal, Japan, and Côte d'Ivoire. I recommend that our companies regularly follow the delegation schedules via the websites of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly and our export associations.