According to figures prepared by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK- TurkStat) in cooperation with Turkey’s Ministry of Trade, and using the General Trade System (GTS) calculation method, Turkey’s foreign trade deficit was USD 9,301 million in December 2025, 5.6% higher than the figure for the same month of the previous year, and 16.2% higher than the deficit for the previous month of November.
Exports totalled USD 26,373 million and imports totalled USD 35,674 million in December 2025. The export figure was a 12.7% increase on the figure for the same month of the previous year, and the import figure was a 10.7% increase. The export figure was 17.1% higher and the import figure 16.9% higher than the respective figures for the previous month of November.
With regards the total year of 2025, the trade deficit was USD 92,009 million, 11.9% higher than the figure for the previous year. Exports totalled USD 273,361 million and imports totalled USD 365,370 million. The export figure was a 4.4% increase and the import figure a 6.2% increase on the figures for the previous year.
The automotive sector with USD 3,560 million (13.5% of total exports) led the export table in December 2025, followed by the machinery and equipment sector with USD 2,421 million (9.2% of total exports), the electrical equipment sector with USD 1,813 million (6.9% of total exports), the precious stones & metals sector with USD 1,180 million (4.5% of total exports), and energy sector with USD 1,159 million (4.4% of total exports). With regards the total year of 2025, automotive sector exports were 13.3%, machinery and equipment sector exports were 9.4%, electrical equipment sector exports were 6.4%, energy sector exports were 5.5%, and precious stones & metals sector exports were 4.9% of total exports.
The energy sector led the import table in December 2025 with USD 6,063 million (17% of total imports), followed by the machinery and mechanical equipment sector with USD 4,253 million (11.9% of total imports), the automotive sector with USD 3,760 million (10.5% of total imports), the electrical equipment sector with USD 2,929 million (8.2% of total imports), and the precious stones & metals sector with USD 2,272 million (6.4% of total imports). With regards the total year of 2025, energy sector imports were 17.1%, machinery and mechanical equipment sector imports were 11.4%, automotive sector imports were 10.1%, electrical equipment sector imports were 8.2%, and precious stones & metals sector imports were 7.7% of total imports.
Turkey’s exports to the EU, Turkey’s main trading partner, were USD 9,956 million in December 2025, 8.2% higher than the figure for the same month of the previous year, and 1.7% higher than the previous month of November. The share of total Turkish exports to the EU was 37.8% in December 2025 compared with 39.3% in the same month of the previous year. With regards the total year of 2025, Turkey’s exports to the EU in 2025 were USD 116.9 billion, 42.8% of its total exports, compared with USD 108.5 billion in 2024, 41.4% of its total exports, USD 104.3 billion in 2023, 40.8% of its total exports, USD 103 billion in 2022, 40.5% of its total exports, USD 93.1 billion in 2021, 41.3% of its total exports, USD 70 billion in 2020, 41.3% of its total exports, and USD 76.7 billion in 2019, 42.4% of total exports. Exports to the EU increased by 7.7% in 2025, 4.1% in 2024, 1.2% in 2023, 10.7% in 2022 and by 32.9% in 2021 after falling 8.7% in 2020.
Germany, the EU’s largest economy, was the leading recipient of Turkish goods in December 2025, with USD 1,760 million. UK followed with USD 1,583 million, USA with USD 1,564 million, Iraq with USD 1,336 million, and France with USD 1,259 million. With regards the full year of 2025, rankings were as follows: Germany (USD 22,167 million), UK (USD 16,773 million), USA (USD 16,328 million), Italy (USD 13,232 million), and Iraq (USD 12,380 million).
China was the leading exporter to Turkey in December 2025 with USD 4,649 million, followed by Russia with USD 3,738 million, Germany with USD 3,022 million, USA with USD 2,021 million, and Italy with USD 1,617 million. With regards the full year of 2025, rankings were as follows: China (USD 49,576 million), Russia (USD 42,373 million), Germany (USD 30,110 million), USA (USD 18,080 million), and Italy (USD 15,736 million).
The percentage of imports covered by exports was 73.9% in December 2025, compared with 72.7% in the same month of the previous year. With regards the full year of 2025, the percentage of imports covered by exports was 74.8% compared with 76.1% in the previous year.
Using the Special Trade System (STS) calculation method of foreign trade, Turkey’s foreign trade deficit in December 2025 was USD 9,591 million, an increase of 4% on the same month of the previous year. Exports were USD 24,172 million, an increase of 14.1% on the same month of the previous year, and imports were USD 33,763 million, an increase of 4% on the same month of the previous year. With regards the total year of 2025, the trade deficit was USD 95,277 million, 13.5% higher than the figure for the previous year. Exports totalled USD 248,768 million and imports totalled USD 344,045 million. The export figure was a 4.8% increase and the import figure a 7% increase on the figures for the previous year.