Turkey's exports reach over $150bn in 2013

Turkey's exports reached 151.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, under the government's 2013 target of 153.5 billion dollars, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Zeybekci said Turkey's exports increased from 36.1 billion dollars in 2002 to 151.7 billion dollars in 2013 during the government led by the ruling Justice and Development. He said that the driving force of the rising exports was the automotive sector with car exports increasing 11.8 percent on an annual basis to 21.305 billion dollars. Agricultural sector accounted for 14.1 percent of overall exports, while industrial sectors accounted for 78.5 percent and mining for 3.3 percent, added Zeybekci. Figures show Germany ranks first in Turkey's export destination with an increase of 3 percent to 13.3 billion dollars, and neighboring Iraq second with a 10 percent increase to 11.8 billion dollars. Turkey's exports to the European Union countries increased by 7 percent to 61.9 billion dollars and exports to the Middle East were also up by 2 percent to 27.5 billion dollars, according to the figures.