Mining exports increase to $2.8 bln in first five months

İZMİR - Anatolia News Agency

The mining industry reached $2.81 billion exports in the first five months. Hürriyet photo

The mining sector increased its exports in first five months of the year to $2.81 billion, a rise of 37 percent compared to last year.

A rapid increase of mining sector exports continued in 2013, according to data compiled from the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM). Turkey’s mining exports totaled $1.52 billion in the first five months of last year, which increased to $2.82 billion in the first five months of 2013.

China, the U.S., Belgium, Iraq and Italy were at the top of the export list, where the lion’s share was natural stone with $833.2 million.

The sector made exports to 179 countries from January until May, but increased its exports to southern African countries. Gabon, Guinea, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Dominica, Bulgaria, the European free trade zone, Turkmenistan, Cameroon, Dubai, Thailand, Libya and South Korea ranked as the destinations to which exports increased the most.

The countries to which Turkey exported the most were China, the U.S., Belgium, Iraq, Italy, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia. China, which occupies an important position with 50 percent of exports, reached $1.39 billion with an increase of 82 percent over the first five months of last year. The unit price per ton in exports increased to $231 in the same period of time, compared to $202 last year.