‘Central Bank decisions scare exporters’

The Aegean Exporters Associations compared the export figures for last year and April this year. While Aegean exporters exported $1.747 billion last year, this year they were down 21 percent from last year with $1.378 billion in exports. In April, Turkey’s exports were down 17 percent. hundred to 19.3 billion dollars. Exports by Aegean Exporters Associations in the January-April 2023 period decreased 2 percent to $6.45 million, while last year’s exports increased 3 percent to $18.129 million.

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS INCREASE, INDUSTRIAL EXPORTS DECREASE

Exports of agricultural products from the Aegean region increased by 4.5 percent, from $505.8 million to $528.9 million. EIB exports of agricultural products increased 20 percent in the January-April period to $2.405 billion, rising from $6.112 billion to $7.118 billion, an increase of 16.4 percent in the last period of 1 year. While the exports of the industrial sectors decreased 32 percent from 1,124 million dollars to 764 million dollars, the loss of blood in the mining sector was 28 percent. The mining industry brought 84.5 million dollars in foreign currency to Turkey. Although the Aegean Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Exporters Association maintained its top position with an export performance of US$177.5 million, it could not prevent the 34 percent drop in its exports.

“IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO PROTECT WHAT EXISTS”

The chairman of the EIB coordinator, Jak Eskinazi, stated that they entered the year 2023 with the aim of “maintaining the stock at export figures” and argued that their efforts to protect the stock in the 4-month period were inconclusive and that they had been talking about spoilage. for about a year as exporters, but they could not see a positive approach. Underlining, Eskinazi said: “Starting in the second quarter of 2022, we have been giving warnings based on the course of orders. The exchange rate increase is incompatible with our cost increases for 1 year. Exporters are in an effort to survive and protect jobs, at the expense of their capital. Our exporters are not making money, they are losing money out of pocket,” he said.

“COMPANIES HAVE COOLED DOWN SINCE EXPORTING”

Eskinazi said that if the measures are not taken, exports will continue to fall and used the following expressions;

* “If the problems of access to financing for our exporters are not resolved, the trade gap of up to 7 percent in exchange rates will not be closed, and unless there is an increase in exchange rates in line with inflation, the fall of exports will continue to continue. The decisions of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye scare exporters. Our companies have distanced themselves from exports. Our exporters cannot receive some orders because they cannot meet the price and these orders are transferred to our competitors.

* The decline in energy prices around the world was not fully reflected in Turkey’s tariffs. If there is a 50 percent decline in energy prices, an increase in exchange rates in line with inflation, if credit taps are turned on, if loans with CBRT sources are provided to exporters as soon as possible, our exports will enter a recovery process in the second half of 2023. In this way, we will be able to protect what exists”.