Turkey’s exports to Portugal in February broke a record with $150.6 million. The European Union (EU) remained the best market for Turkey’s exports last month. Exports to EU countries in February increased by 0.3 compared to the same month last year, reaching $8 billion. During this period, exports to EU countries accounted for approximately 40% of the total exports. While Turkey continues to develop its trade relations in this region, last month’s exports to Portugal also stood out. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) data, Turkey achieved its highest monthly export to Portugal of all time in February with $150.6 million. Exports to this country increased by 20% compared to the same month last year.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR LEADS
When looked at from a sectoral perspective, the automotive industry conducted the highest exports to Portugal with $47.8 million. Following the automotive sector, the steel sector exported $31.9 million, textiles and raw materials $20.2 million, chemical materials and products $15.5 million, and the electrical-electronics sector $7.8 million to the country. In addition, exports of machinery and parts, iron and non-iron metals, air conditioning industry, ready-to-wear clothing and textiles, aquatic products, and animal products to Portugal totaled $6.8 million, $5.6 million, $4.2 million, $2.2 million, and $2 million, respectively. Thus, out of the top 10 sectors that exported to Portugal in February, 9 belonged to the industrial sector.

STEEL SECTOR AT THE TOP
The sector that showed the highest increase in exports to Portugal in February in terms of value was the steel sector with $22 million. Following this sector, the automotive industry with $16.5 million, machinery and parts with $3 million, ready-to-wear clothing and textiles with $1.3 million, and chemical materials and products with $1.2 million ensued in export growth. When looked at on a provincial basis, exports to the country were $38.7 million from Istanbul, $29.4 million from Bursa, $22.9 million from Hatay, $7.8 million from Sakarya, and $7.4 million from Kahramanmaras.