The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Turkey’s import purchases during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Turkey.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$37.2 billion (15.9% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $27.2 billion (11.6%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $21.2 billion (9%)
4. Gems, precious metals: $17.4 billion (7.5%)
5. Vehicles: $17.4 billion (7.5%)
6. Iron, steel: $16.8 billion (7.2%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $13.3 billion (5.7%)
8. Organic chemicals: $5.4 billion (2.3%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5 billion (2.1%)
10. Pharmaceuticals: $4.4 billion (1.9%)

Gems and precious metals posted the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 142.1% from 2016 to 2017 thanks to much higher Turkish purchases of gold.

In second place for improving import sales was the mineral fuels including oil category up 36.9%, led principally by improvement in the global sales of refined petroleum oils, coal and petroleum gases. Exported iron and steel delivered the third-fastest gain up 33.3%.

Vehicles and machinery including computers were the sole top 10 categories to register year-over-year declines, down by -2.3% and -0.5% respectively.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2017, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of fossil fuel-related products:

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$9.8 billion (up 33.7% from 2016)
2. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $3.9 billion (up 48.4%)
3. Petroleum gases: $1.6 billion (up 35.2%)
4. Coke, semi-coke: $468.8 million (up 365.9%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $463.8 million (up 72.5%)
6. Electrical energy: $85.5 million (down -60%)
7. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $54.4 million (up 14.7%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $39.8 million (down -6.5%)
9. Peat: $16.9 million (up 11%)
10. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $3.2 million (down -22.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 365.9%), petroleum oil residues (up 72.5%) and coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 48.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of fossil fuel-related imports among Turkish businesses and consumers.

In 2017, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:

1. Engines (diesel): US$2.4 billion (up 6.6% from 2016)
2. Computers, optical readers: $2 billion (up 6%)
3. Turbo-jets: $1.4 billion (up 28%)
4. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.2 billion (up 4.6%)
5. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.1 billion (up 4.1%)
6. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.1 billion (up 12.5%)
7. Piston engines: $1.1 billion (up 37.7%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.1 billion (down -27.8%)
9. Piston engine parts: $1 billion (up 11%)
10. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $1 billion (down -3.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of piston engines (up 37.7%), turbo-jets (up 28%) and centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 12.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Turkish businesses and consumers.

In 2017, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical equipment:

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$4.3 billion (down -9.8% from 2016)
2. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $3.8 billion (up 27.9%)
3. TV/radio/radar device parts: $1.4 billion (up 40.1%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $1.2 billion (up 14.2%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $1 billion (up 31.2%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $944.7 million (up 15.7%)
7. Insulated wire/cable: $910.8 million (up 4.9%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $767.9 million (up 4.2%)
9. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $737 million (down -7.8%)
10. Electric generating sets, converters: $633 million (down -56.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of TV, radio and radar device parts (up 40.1%), electrical converters or power units (up 31.2%) and solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 27.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electrical equipment-related imports among Turkish businesses and consumers.

In 2017, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of gems and precious metals:

1. Gold (unwrought): US$16.6 billion (up 156.7% from 2016)
2. Jewelry: $556 million (up 37.4%)
3. Silver (unwrought): $147.4 million (down -9.9%)
4. Diamonds (unmounted/unset): $77.4 million (down -4.1%)
5. Imitation jewelry: $63.7 million (down -13%)
6. Precious stone dust, powder: $4.5 million (up 7.4%)
7. Platinum (unwrought): $3.7 million (down -0.8%)
8. Other precious metal items: $3.4 million (down -30.7%)
9. Synthetic precious stones: $2.5 million (up 13.6%)
10. Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung): $2.5 million (up 8.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of gold (up 156.7%), jewelry (up 37.4%) and synthetic precious stones (up 13.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of gems and precious metals-related imports among Turkish businesses and consumers.