Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek expressed confidence that Türkiye will maintain a sustainable current account balance in 2025, despite an expected rise in the foreign trade deficit.
“We continue to increase support to limit the effects of current conditions on production and exports,” Şimşek stated on social media.
While exports in February declined by 1.5% year-on-year due to parity effects, fewer working days, and adverse weather conditions, total exports for the first two months of 2025 recorded a 2.1% increase. Meanwhile, imports rose by 3.8%, though imports excluding gold and energy fell by 3.1%, signaling an improved balance in these categories.
Despite uncertainties in global trade, protectionist policies, weak EU growth, and natural gas prices, Şimşek remains optimistic about economic stability.
Defense Sector Sees Strong Export Growth
Türkiye’s defense industry exports surged by 44% year-on-year in February, rising from $300 million to $434 million. In the first two months of 2025, total exports climbed 29.6% to $816 million.
Defense Industry Agency (SSB) head Haluk Görgün attributed the growth to a focus on high-tech, value-added products, and international collaboration.
“Our goal is to maintain a consistent upward growth trajectory in defense industry exports to strengthen our position in the global market,” Görgün said.
He emphasized the importance of SMEs and large-scale enterprises in sustaining export growth and expanding Türkiye’s defense industry presence worldwide.