While a total of 2023 billion dollars of exports were realized throughout Turkey in 120 through 254 thousand exporting companies, 194 companies in the Aegean Free Zone brought 2.8 billion dollars to the country from foreign sales. According to these data; While the export revenue per exporter company is 2.1 million dollars throughout the country, the export revenue per company in the Aegean Free Zone is 14.6 million dollars. This amount corresponds to 7 times the Turkish average.
When compared in terms of the added value of exported products, the Region's exports, with a kilogram value of 9 dollars, have a value approximately 1.57 times higher than the kilogram value of Turkey's exports, which is 6 dollars.
The Aegean Free Zone increased its high-rate growth momentum, which it has maintained for 4 years, above expectations in 2023. Last year, the total trade volume from the Aegean Free Zone increased by approximately 10 percent compared to the previous year, reaching over 5.8 billion dollars. International sales from the Aegean Free Zone increased by 13.48 percent, reaching over 2.8 billion dollars. While sales from abroad to the region remained at the level of 1.78 billion dollars with an increase of only 1.5 percent, the ratio of exports to imports in the Aegean Free Zone in 2023 was approximately 180 percent.
Evaluating the performance of the region in 2023, ESBAŞ Executive Board Chairman Dr. Faruk Güler emphasized that the approximately 10 percent increase in trade volume was above expectations.
Dr. pointed out that the companies operating in the Aegean Free Zone export above the Türkiye average. Faruk Güler gave the following information: “In 2023, a total of 120 thousand exporting companies across Turkey exported 254 billion dollars. This represents an average of 2.1 million dollars per exporter company. There are 194 companies in the Aegean Free Zone and 2.8 billion dollars of exports were made from the region. When averaged, exports per company amount to 14.6 million dollars. “This corresponds to 7 times the Turkish average.”
The Region's Exports Are 6 Times More Valuable on a Unit Value Basis
Pointing out that high added value products are produced and exported in the Aegean Free Zone, Dr. Faruk Güler said, “Our region is an industrial center where products with the highest added value are produced, with an export of 9 kg/dollar on a unit value basis. When we consider that the average unit value of Turkey's exports in 2023 is 1.57 kg/dollar, we see that exports from our region are 6 times higher than Turkey's exports in terms of unit value. "Our companies' exports are more than twice as high as Germany's exports, which are at 4 kg/dollar," he said.
Despite the Recession in Global Trade, ESB has been Growing in Double Digits for 3 Years
Pointing out that last year the global trade volume grew at a very low rate of 2,4 percent and some economies, especially Germany, Turkey's most important foreign trade partner, entered a recession. Faruk Güler said: “Most of Western Europe is in recession. The world economy left 2023 behind as a year of supply chain problems, a slower-than-expected recovery in China, high inflation, and central banks increasing interest rates rapidly to suppress inflation. Due to the lackluster movement in global trade, the increase in our country's exports in 2023 was limited to 6 per thousand. The current account deficit problem in foreign trade continues. When we look at it from this perspective, it is extremely important that while the total trade volume of the Aegean Free Zone increased by 10 percent and its exports by 13.48 percent, the increase in imports was limited to 1.78 percent. The ratio of exports to imports by companies in our region was approximately 180 percent. "The Aegean Free Zone has been making a great contribution to our country's economy by providing such a high foreign trade surplus for years," he said.
Dr. Faruk Güler stated that in addition to contributing to the improvement of Turkey's foreign trade balance with the foreign exchange income provided by the companies in the Aegean Free Zone, it also supports the reduction of unemployment, which is another important problem of the economy, and said: "Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation and monetary tightening The slowdown in global trade that started in 2020, along with widespread debt problems and widespread debt problems, has continued for three years. Despite this, the Aegean Free Zone was able to increase its trade volume by 2021 percent in 21.56, 2022 percent in 13.49 and 2023 percent in 10. The export increase in the last 3 years was in double digits such as 16 percent, 10 percent and 13.48 percent. As the figures show, our region has managed to differentiate itself positively from the bad course of the global economy in the last 3 years. These developments also increase the employment of companies here. "In 2023, employment in the region increased by approximately one thousand people, reaching 25 thousand people at the end of the year," he said.