Turkey's packaging industry significantly boosts exports to EU

ISTANBUL

AFP Photo

Turkey’s packaging industry increased its exports by 11 percent in the first nine months of the year from the same period of 2013, up to $2.87 billion, said the Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD) in a written statement on Dec. 17, adding that five European countries were included in the industry’s 10 largest export markets.

“Turkey grew 1.7 percent in the third quarter of the year and exports made a big contribution to growth. Our industry reach a more than $225 million trade surplus in the first nine months of the year, making a positive contribution to the Turkish economy’s growth,” said ASD head Sadettin Korkut.

The packaging sector made the most exports to Germany with $228.4 million, followed by the U.K. with $188.5 million and Iraq with $188.5 million, according to the data compiled by the association from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK).

There are five European countries in the top 10 export markets, including Italy, the Netherlands and France as well as Germany and Britain, according to the ASD report.

“Despite recession risks in the Eurozone, our exports to Europe have increased to significant levels. On value basis, we saw the biggest increase in exports to Italy by 31 percent, to the Netherlands by 18 percent, to Britain by 12 percent, to France by 8 percent and to Germany by 4 percent,” Korkut said.