Year over year, the overall cost of goods imported into Türkiye fell by -5% from $362 billion for 2023.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Turkish lira depreciated by -29.8% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Türkiye’s weaker local currency makes Turkish imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Turkish lira.
Domestically, Türkiye’s inflation rate specific to average consumer prices swelled by 60.9% in 2024 up from the 53.9% inflation rate for 2023.
Among Türkiye’s costliest import products are processed petroleum oils, cars, unwrought gold, iron or steel scrap, and automobile parts or accessories. Collectively, that quintet of leading imports represents over one-fifth (20.7%) of Turkish import spending in 2024.
Türkiye’s Best Suppliers for Imports
The latest available country-specific data shows that 62.5% of products exported from Türkiye was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (13.1% of the Turkish total), Russia (12.8%), Germany (7.9%), Italy (5.6%), United States of America (4.7%), France (3.6%), Switzerland (3.3%), Spain (2.72%), South Korea (2.69%), United Arab Emirates (2.14%), India (2.04%) and United Kingdom (1.99%).
Applying a continental lens, over half (54.7%) of Türkiye’s total imports by value in 2024 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied about a third (33.1%) of import sales to buyers in Türkiye while another 5.7% worth of goods originated from North America.
Smaller percentages came from suppliers in Africa (3.5%), Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.4%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Türkiye’s population of 85.8 million in 2024, and the total $344 billion in import purchases, the per capita value of Turkish imports was about $4,000. That dollar amount lags the average $4,200 one year earlier in 2023.
Türkiye’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Türkiye’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Türkiye.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$65.6 billion (19.1% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $39.6 billion (11.5%)
- Vehicles: $31.7 billion (9.2%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $27.2 billion (7.9%)
- Gems, precious metals: $24.9 billion (7.2%)
- Iron, steel: $23.7 billion (6.9%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $15.6 billion (4.5%)
- Organic chemicals: $9.5 billion (2.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $6.8 billion (2%)
- Aluminum: $6.1 billion (1.8%)
Türkiye’s top 10 imports approached three-quarters (72.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Gainers for Türkiye’s imported products from 2023 to 2024 were the optical, technical and medical apparatus (up 5.2%) and the organic chemicals (up 3%) product categories.
The severest year-over-year decrease was for Turkish imports of gems and precious metals, pulled down by a -26.7% retreat largely attributable to lower exported gold revenues.
Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.
Türkiye’s Main Imports of Mineral Fuels
In 2024, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of fossil fuel-related products.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$20.9 billion (up 2.2% from 2023)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $5 billion (down -9.4%)
- Petroleum gases: $2.1 billion (down -3.8%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $869.2 million (up 10.5%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $460.6 million (up 59.2%)
- Electrical energy: $166.4 million (down -71.4%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $86 million (down -25.3%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $70.5 million (down -6.5%)
- Peat: $21 million (down -5.5%)
- Tar pitch, coke: $5.7 million (down -52.5%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of coke and semi-coke (up 59.2%), petroleum oil residues (up 10.5%) then processed petroleum oils (up 2.2%) grew from 2023 to 2024.
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.
Türkiye’s Main Imports of Machinery Products
In 2024, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$3.1 billion (down -11.4% from 2023)
- Engines (diesel): $2.7 billion (down -14.6%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2 billion (up 6.4%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $1.83 billion (up 7%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.8 billion (down -4.9%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $1.68 billion (up 7.3%)
- Piston engines: $1.63 billion (down -3.4%)
- Turbo-jets: $1.58 billion (up 22.3%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.54 billion (up 1%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $1.4 billion (up 6.6%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of turbo-jets (up 22.3%), air or vacuum pumps (up 7.3%) then miscellaneous machinery (up 7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
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.
Türkiye’s Main Imports of Vehicles
In 2024, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$17.7 billion (down -2.5% from 2023)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $7.1 billion (down -0.4%)
- Trucks: $2.8 billion (up 1.7%)
- Tractors: $1.7 billion (down -26.2%)
- Motorcycles: $1 billion (up 48.8%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $372.2 million (up 14.4%)
- Trailers: $340.8 million (down -36.4%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $255.3 million (up 141.8%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $210.3 million (up 45.5%)
- Baby carriages: $30.8 million (up 7.7%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 141.8%), motorcycles (up 48.8%) then special purpose vehicles (up 45.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Turkish businesses and consumers.
Türkiye’s Main Imports of Gems and Precious Metals
In 2024, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of gems and precious metals.
- Gold (unwrought): US$17.1 billion (down -43% from 2023)
- Jewelry: $6.6 billion (up 173.5%)
- Silver (unwrought): $469.2 million (down -60.6%)
- Goldsmith/silversmith wares: $351.9 million (up 2,081%)
- Diamonds (unmounted/unset): $176.7 million (up 18.1%)
- Imitation jewelry: $105.2 million (up 53.4%)
- Other precious metal items: $18.6 million (up 47.1%)
- Natural pearl/precious stone items: $13 million (up 31.2%)
- Platinum (unwrought): $7.6 million (down -21.5%)
- Precious stone dust, powder: $6.2 million (down -3.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of goldsmith or silversmith wares (up 2,081%), jewelry (up 173.5%) then imitation jewelry (up 53.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported gems and precious metals among Turkish businesses and consumers.
See also Top Turkish Trade Balances, Türkiye’s Top 10 Exports and Türkiye’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on August 16, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 16, 2025
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Turkish Lira to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on August 16, 2025