Turkey’s auto exports increases by 9%

Turkey exported 9 percent more motor vehicles and parts in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period in 2013, bringing in almost US$15 billion in revenue, according to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly on Tuesday.
The exporters’ group said in the first eight months of this year, 164 countries and 14 free zones received Turkey's car exports.
Germany accounted for 16.57 percent of the sector's exports which were worth $2.5 billion. Europe’s biggest economy was followed by England, which imported $1.66 billion. Exports to France reached $1.6 billion and exports to Italy stood at $1.2 billion.
The exports increased only by 0.4 percent last month compared to the same time last year because of the holiday season, where some factories were closed for annual maintenance in the country.
Additionally, Turkey - the sixth-largest car manufacturer and the top maker of light commercial vehicles in Europe, rolled out more than 1.2 million motor vehicles in 2013 with well-known brands including Toyota, Ford, Renault, Fiat, Honda and Hyundai.
Turkey's carmakers have been adding new models and increasing their factories' production capacity in Turkey over the last few years.
Separately, Turkish total exports increased by 5.2 percent in August compared to the same month last year, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly announced Monday.
As the economic recovery in Europe continues, exports totaled $11.07 billion in August. The assembly declared that exports to neighboring Iraq fell by 26.9 percent in August due to the recent turmoil in the country. The largest exports increase was to Iran with 57.6 percent.