Turkey’s automotive sector remains its top performing industry, posting an 8.2% increase in exports last month. Its October sales of $2.2 bn helped prop up the country’s export total for the month , which stood at $11.727 bn – 4.9% down on the same period last year.

The October 2016 figures were released by the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM) at a press conference in the Ford factory at Kocaeli, western Turkey.

The first ten months of 2016 recorded a 3.1% dip in exports to $115.952 bn, better than expected given Turkey’s difficult trade conditions: battling terrorism, multiple conflicts on its borders, Russia’s economic boycott, which ended last month, and the attempted coup attempt in July and ensuing state of emergency.

‘EU remains Turkey’s most important market, accounting for 49.6% of all exports’

Garments and apparels also did well, posting monthly export figures of $1.4 bn in October. They helped Turkey grow its exports in 102 countries. Among the largest export increases were to the USA, up 12.8%, China (up 23.7%), and Bulgaria (up 61.7%).

While politically relations between Ankara and Brussels remains strained, the EU remains Turkey’s most important market, accounting for 49.6% of all its exports in October 2016. The figures show a 4.7% downturn compared to last year, whereas exports to the Far East increased by 35.8% last month.

Made in Turkey: Toyota C-HR production starts in Sakarya

On 9 Nov., Turkey also welcomed the new hybrid Toyota C-HR (pictured above). Destined for European markets, the new car is being made in the Toyota plant in Sakarya, located 148km from Istanbul on the Black Sea coast.

The car is the eighth model to be produced in Europe and Toyota’s third hybrid car, with the Yaris Hybrid made in France and the Auris and Auris Touring Sports hybrids produced in the UK.

Presiding over the official launch ceremony for the Toyota C-HR at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) in Sakarya last week, Dr Van Zyl, Toyota Motor Europe President and CEO, said:

“The Toyota C-HR is a hugely important product for the whole of Toyota, not just for TMMT. The crossover segment is growing fast. This car is Toyota’s very strong entry to this segment.”

The Toyota C-HR is the first Toyota car outside Japan to be manufactured based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).

“TNGA is our new philosophy of vehicle creation and part of our initiatives for building ever-better cars. Toyota will gradually expand the production of vehicles based on TNGA,” added Moritaka Yoshida, a senior managing officer at Toyota.