The most valuable Turkish imports also include coal and solar-power components. Mobile phones is another area where Turkey shows strong import demand.
The following list shows on which product categories Turkish importers spent the most. Unlike most information currently available on the web, the items below are detailed at the 4-digit tariff code level.
This level of granularity can help entrepreneurs identify more precisely which products in which Turkey has strong demand perhaps competitive disadvantages compared with other nations. Innovation satisfying that demand can transform these disadvantages into lucrative business opportunities.
For the most recent four-digit HTS code data, please see the link to Turkey’s Top 10 Imports article in the See also paragraph above Research Sources below.
Highest Value Turkish Import Products
Below are the 20 highest value import products delivered to Turkish importers in 2017. Shown within brackets is the change in value for each imported product year over year.
- Gold (unwrought): US$16.6 billion (Up 9.6% from 2013 to 2017)
- Processed petroleum oils: $9.8 billion (Down -36.4%)
- Cars: $8.6 billion (Down -5.7%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $6.2 billion (Up 26%)
- Iron or steel scrap: $6.1 billion (Down -18.3%)
- Phone system devices including smartphones: $4.3 billion (Up 8.5%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $3.9 billion (Up 333.4%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $3.8 billion (Up 1,104%)
- Propylene/olefin polymers: $2.7 billion (Down -8.5%)
- Medication mixes in dosage: $2.7 billion (Down -3.7%)
- Ethylene polymers: $2.4 billion (Down -4.5%)
- Refined copper, unwrought alloys: $2.4 billion (Down -10.7%)
- Engines (diesel): $2.4 billion (Up 6.6%)
- Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $2.4 billion (Down -2.6%)
- Aluminum (unwrought): $2.3 billion (Up 3.8%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $2.1 billion (Up 8.2%)
- Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $2 billion (Down -28.9%)
- Computers, optical readers: $2 billion (Down -24.3%)
- Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels: $1.8 billion (Up 2,851%)
- Synthetic filament yarn: $1.7 billion (Up 17.3%)
Among these product categories, yachts and similar boating vessels posted the greatest increase in Turkish import purchases with a 2,851% gain since 2013.
In second place were imported solar power diodes and semi-conductors which appreciated 1,104%.
Turkish imports of coal including solid fuels made from coal also showed an impressive gain in 2017 up 333.4% over the 5-year period.
Leading the decliners were processed petroleum oils (down -36.4%), semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products (down -28.9%) and computers (down -24.3%).
See also Turkey’s Top 10 Imports, Turkey’s Top Trading Partners and Turkey’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 9, 2018
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Imports and World Population, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 9, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on February 9, 2018