Turkey’s defense and aerospace exports recorded a surge of 37.7 percent in the January to September period over the same period last year and hit $1.9 billion, the highest level in the country’s history, Daily Sabah reported.
Defense exports totaled $1.3 billion in the same period last year.
Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM) data revealed that the defense and aerospace industry recorded the highest rise in exports among other sectors in the first three quarters of the year. Overall Turkish exports rose by 2.6 percent in this period.
The significant rise in defense exports was followed by cement, glass and ceramics at 18.9 percent and chemicals at 17.6 percent. Hazelnut exports increased by 11.3 percent.
In the first nine months of the year defense and aerospace exports to the US rose by 17.1 percent, totaling $595.2 million. Germany came second at $184.7 million, rising by 9.7 percent. Defense exports to Oman recorded a rise of 35.8 percent, reaching $184.7 million.
Another drastic increase was seen in defense sales to Qatar, with 336.6 percent, while exports totaled $138.7 million. The highest surge, however, was recorded in exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with defense sales reaching $96.4 million and rising by 763.8 percent.
Ankara recorded the highest defense exports in the January-September period, accounting for 44.4 percent of total overseas sales at $825.3 million, a 26.6 percent increase.
Defense exports from Istanbul and Eskişehir reached $490.9 million and 341.2 million, respectively. Antalya ranked fourth in Turkey’s defense exports in the first nine months of the year with $43.3 million.