VAN, Turkey
Turkish exports increased by 6.5 percent last month compared to September 2013, the largest September rise since 1923, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly has announced.
Exports totaled $13.3 billion, the assembly (TIM), announced on Wednesday, as the economic recovery in Europe continued.
Speaking in the eastern province of Agri, TIM president Mehmet Buyukeksi said: "Turkey has achieved a positive atmosphere in the EU, and is still progressing. The country's exports to the bloc increased by 13 percent in 2014.
"Over the first seven months, global exports from 70 countries increased by 2.8 percent, while Turkey achieved an increase of 6.1 percent - more than twice the world average. Therefore, Turkey is hopeful for the rest of the year."
"The demand for dollars is increasing worldwide after the Fed’s decision to hike interest rates. As exporters, we want a stable exchange rate instead of a high rate," he added.
For the first nine months of 2014, exports increased by 5.7 percent in comparison with the same period of 2013, totaling $118.2 billion, according to Buyukeksi.
- Turmoil in Iraq
Exports to Germany rose 13 percent year-on-year and the automobile industry alone registered $1.9 billion in exports for September.
Exports to neighboring Iraq fell by 14 percent in September, TIM declared, as recent turmoil in the country hampered exports to it.
According to TIM's figures for August, Iraq has dropped from second to fifth place among Turkey’s top export markets.
On September 28 this year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled Turkey’s new slogan and logo for use on exported Turkish products.
Erdogan said: "From now on, Turkey and Turkish products will be better introduced with the logo and slogan 'Discover the Potential'.
"These are all symbols of a new Turkey, a new strong Turkey having global aims. These are the symbols of Turkey's self-confidence."
The new logo will replace the previous "Made in Turkey" mark.
- 'Negative effect'
Turkey is the 16th-largest economy in the world, according to last year’s GDP figures, and its major markets include Germany, Iraq, the U.K., Russia and Italy.
The president of the Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges of Turkey, Rifat Hisarciklioglu, said Turkish companies had faced problems in Iraq.
Hisarciklioglu said: "The country had become the most important trading partner after Germany.
"However, recent developments in Iraq have negatively affected our economic relations. Turkish exports have declined 40 percent since June of this year."
Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said in July that the continuing decline in Turkish exports to Iraq would create a $2.5 billion loss by the end of 2014.
Iraq has faced violence and political turmoil since ISIL militants seized large areas of the country in June.
An increase in exports is crucial for fixing Turkey's economy long term.
The Turkish economy has been recovering with a rise in exports of almost 6 percent over the last 9-month period, thanks to improvements in the Euro-zone - Turkey's biggest trading partner.
www.aa.com.tr/en
