Turkey's automotive exports grow 12%

Uludag Automotive Industry Exporters Union (OIB) President Orhan Sabuncu said Turkey's automotive exports grew 12 percent in two successive months for April and May. Sabuncu said in a written statement that automotive industry continued to grow in Turkey while European manufacturers were struggling with ups and downs due to the economic crisis. Export of cars increased 12 percent and reached $1.8 billion, Sabuncu said, reminding the overall automotive exports increased 8.6 percent to reach $12.7 billion since the beginning of the year. Sabuncu said the growth owed largely to a 14-percent increase in exports to EU, largest market for Turkish automotive products. The biggest European buyer in May was Germany with $244 million despite a 5 percent decrease. Germany was followed by France with $210 million, Italy with $162 million, and Britain with $157 million.