Turkey’s defense industry exports hit $900 million in 2018

ANKARA

Turkey’s aviation and defense industry exports saw an increase of nearly 14 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching over $900 million in the first half of 2018,.

The country’s aviation and defense industry exports also reached $1.85 billion in the most recent 12-month period, according to Turkish Exporters’ Assembly data compiled by state-run Anadolu Agency on July 2.

Turkey’s exports in the first six months were $81.9 billion and in the last 12 months they were $161.5 billion.

Over 1 percent of all exports came from the aviation and defense sectors.

The aviation and defense industry sectors made most of the exports to the U.S. - at $342.9 million - followed by Germany with $116.9 million.

The country’s state-run and private aviation and defense companies manufacture several types of products, such as unmanned air vehicles, weapons, tanks, armored cars, and command and control systems.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s top exporting industries during the first six months of 2018 were the automotive, textile and chemicals sectors, at $16.4 billion, $8.8 billion and $8.4 billion respectively.