Based on the average exchange rate for 2021, the Turkish lira depreciated by -143.7% against the US dollar since 2017 and declined by -26.9% from 2020 to 2021. Turkey’s weaker local currency makes Turkish imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Turkish lira.
Among Turkey’s most valuable import products are iron or steel scrap, refined petroleum oils, phone devices including smartphones, and computers.
Applying a continental lens, about half of Turkey’s total imports by value in 2021 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied almost a third of import sales to Turkey while another 6.1% worth of goods originated from North America. Smaller percentage shares came from Africa (3.3%), Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (also 2.8%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia.
Given Turkey’s population of 84.6 million in 2021, and the total $271.4 billion in import purchases, the per capita value of Turkish imports was $3,200. That dollar amount compares to an average $2,600 one year earlier in 2020.
Turkey’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Turkey’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Turkey.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$50.7 billion (18.7% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $31 billion (11.4%)
- Iron, steel: $27.6 billion (10.2%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $20 billion (7.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $17.6 billion (6.5%)
- Vehicles: $15.6 billion (5.7%)
- Organic chemicals: $9.3 billion (3.4%)
- Gems, precious metals: $7.1 billion (2.6%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $6.9 billion (2.5%)
- Aluminum: $6.6 billion (2.4%)
Turkey’s top 10 imports accounted for well over two-thirds (70.9%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Leading the gainers for Turkey’s imported products from 2020 to 2021 were the aluminum category (up 93.5%). In second place was imported iron and steel (up 82.9%), mineral fuels including oil (up 75.3%) then organic chemicals (up 58.6%).
The sole year-over-year decliner was for Turkish imports of gems and precious metals thanks to a -29.8% reduction.
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.
Turkey’s Main Imports of Mineral Fuels
In 2021, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of fossil fuel-related products.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$9.9 billion (up 56.5% from 2020)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $4.1 billion (up 49.8%)
- Petroleum gases: $2 billion (up 71%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $682.9 million (up 99.9%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $507.3 million (up 240.9%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $75.3 million (up 40.5%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $69 million (up 53.6%)
- Electrical energy: $54 million (down -2.8%)
- Peat: $17 million (up 8.6%)
- Tar pitch, coke: $3.6 million (down -22.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 240.9%), petroleum oil residues (up 99.9%) then petroleum gases (up 71%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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.
Turkey’s Main Imports of Machinery Products
In 2021, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$2.9 billion (up 17.7% from 2020)
- Engines (diesel): $2.6 billion (up 17.6%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.6 billion (up 17.1%)
- Piston engines: $1.4 billion (up 27.1%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $1.4 billion (up 23.8%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.3 billion (up 19.2%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.2 billion (up 14.8%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $1.1 billion (up 21.1%)
- Piston engine parts: $952.6 million (up 9%)
- Turbo-jets: $904.9 million (up 9.2%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of piston engines (up 27.1%), air or vacuum pumps (up 23.8%) then miscellaneous machinery (up 21.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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.
Turkey’s Main Imports of Iron and Steel
In 2021, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of iron and steel.
- Iron or steel scrap: US$11.1 billion (up 78.3% from 2020)
- Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $4.9 billion (up 138.9%)
- Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $2.8 billion (up 79.7%)
- Flat-rolled other alloy steel products: $1.7 billion (up 63.7%)
- Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $1.5 billion (up 51.8%)
- Iron ferroalloys: $928.5 million (up 74.6%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $782.4 million (up 44.4%)
- Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $779.3 million (up 109.5%)
- Pig iron: $676.1 million (up 82.9%)
- Alloy steel bars, rods: $351.1 million (up 60.2%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 138.9%), cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 109.5%) then pig iron (up 82.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported iron and steel among Turkish businesses and consumers.
Turkey’s Main Imports of Electronics Products
In 2021, Turkish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical items including consumer electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$3.6 billion (up 6.7% from 2020)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $1.3 billion (up 16.9%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $1.2 billion (up 11.5%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $1.1 billion (up 24.2%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $1.1 billion (up 16.5%)
- Electric motors, generators: $1 billion (up 22.6%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $831 million (up 46%)
- Electric storage batteries: $788.5 million (up 32.3%)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $774.3 million (down -21.5%)
- Miscellaneous machine electrical parts: $758.2 million (up 5316.9%)
Among these import subcategories, Turkish purchases of miscellaneous machine electrical parts (up 5,317%), solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 46%) then electric storage batteries (up 32.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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.
See also Top Turkish Trade Balances, Turkey’s Top 10 Exports and Turkey’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on March 22, 2022
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 22, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 22, 2022
