Türkiye’s overall export unit value index rose by 2.6% in February 2025 compared to the same month last year, reflecting higher prices in key export categories despite a simultaneous decline in export volumes, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reported on Thursday.

The increase in export unit value was largely driven by a 6.7% rise in food, beverages and tobacco, followed by a 3.5% increase in crude materials (excluding fuels), and a 2.4% rise in manufactured goods excluding food, beverages, and tobacco. In contrast, the unit value index for fuel exports declined sharply by 8.8%.

However, despite the gains in value, the overall export volume index saw a 4.1% year-on-year decrease in February. The biggest volume drop was recorded in food, beverages, and tobacco exports, which declined by 9.6%, followed by an 8.0% decrease in crude materials and a 4.3% drop in manufactured goods. Fuel exports, however, bucked the trend with a notable 7.2% increase in volume.

On the import side, Türkiye’s overall import unit value index rose by 3.0% year-on-year. The most significant rise was observed in food, beverages, and tobacco (6.5%) and fuels (4.3%), while crude materials and manufactured goods declined by 5.0% and 0.1%, respectively.

The overall import volume index slipped slightly by 0.5% in February. While imports of food, beverages, and tobacco rose by 8.7%, and crude materials and fuels increased by 2.3% and 1.4% respectively, manufactured goods imports fell by 4.4%.

Seasonally and calendar-adjusted export volumes declined by 2.7% from January to February 2025, falling from 158.1 to 153.8. Compared to February 2024, the calendar-adjusted export volume showed a marginal 0.2% dip. Import volumes followed a similar trend, with the seasonally adjusted index falling 0.7% month-on-month to 127.7. Nonetheless, the calendar-adjusted import volume increased by 2.6% year-on-year.

Türkiye’s terms of trade—a key indicator measuring the relative price of exports to imports—slipped to 86.9 in February 2025, down from 87.2 in the same month of the previous year. This suggests that, while Türkiye received higher prices for its exports, import costs rose at a slightly faster pace, eroding trade advantage.

The latest data underscores ongoing volatility in global trade flows, influenced by shifting commodity prices, geopolitical developments, and currency fluctuations—all of which continue to shape Türkiye’s external trade performance. (ILKHA)