The following list shows the top 10 general product categories under which Turkey racked up the severest trade deficits during 2014.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: -US$48.8 billion (37.7% of all product deficits)
2. Machinery: -$14.5 billion (11.2%)
3. Iron, steel: -$8.3 billion (6.4%)
4. Electronic equipment: -$8.3 billion (6.4%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: -$8.1 billion (6.2%)
6. Organic chemicals: -$5.3 billion (4.1%)
7. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$4.2 billion (3.2%)
8. Pharmaceuticals: -$3.6 billion (2.8%)
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: -$2.4 billion (1.9%)
10. Cereals: -$2.2 billion (1.7%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 81.6% of Turkey’s overall product-category deficit subtotal which amounted to $129.5 billion. For that subtotal, 58 of Turkey’s 97 general product categories incurred deficits in 2014 while the remaining 39 categories delivered surplus amounts.

Turkey deepened its trade deficit amounts at the greatest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Leather, animal gut articles: Up 237.3% since 2010 (-US$127.6 million)
2. Cereals: Up 213% (-$2.2 billion)
3. Collector items, art, antiques: Up 158.8% (-$50.7 million)
4. Animal/vegetable fats, oils: Up 79.8% (-$955.9 million)
5. Aluminum: Up 66.7% (-$950.8 million)
6. Food industry waste, animal fodder: Up 64.1% (-$1.2 billion)
7. Fertilizers: Up 62.7% (-$1.3 billion)
8. Books, newspapers, pictures: Up 57.4% (-$84.6 million)
9. Explosives, pyrotechnics: Up 55.9% (-$31.8 million)
10. Other base metals: Up 54.3% (-$120.5 million)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that pushed Turkey into the most costly deficits versus its international trade partners.

1. Processed petroleum oils: -US$9.9 billion
2. Iron or steel scrap: -$6.9 billion
3. Phone system devices: -$4.3 billion
4. Gold (unwrought): -$3.9 billion
5. Propylene/olefin polymers: -$3.3 billion
6. Aircraft, spacecraft: -$2.6 billion
7. Computers, optical readers: -$2.6 billion
8. Refined copper, unwrought alloys: -$2.5 billion
9. Ethylene polymers: -$2.5 billion
10. Petroleum gases: -$2.5 billion
11. Aluminum (unwrought): -$2.4 billion
12. Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): -$2.3 billion
13. Medication mixes in dosage: -$2.2 billion
14. Engines (diesel): -$2.1 billion
15. Cotton (uncarded, uncombed): -$1.7 billion

Among these, unwrought gold had the fastest-growing Turkish deficit accelerating by 760.2% since 2010. In second place were ethylene polymers up 62.5% while negative net exports for propylene and olefin polymers appreciated by 56.9%.

The following list presents trade partners with which Turkey racked up the highest trade deficits in 2014.

1. China: -US$22.1 billion (17.3% of Turkish country-specific deficits)
2. Russia: -$19.3 billion (15.2%)
3. Germany: -$7.2 billion (5.7%)
4. South Korea: -$7.1 billion (5.6%)
5. United States: -$6.4 billion (5%)
6. India: -$6.3 billion (5%)
7. Iran: -$5.9 billion (4.7%)
8. Italy: -$4.9 billion (3.9%)
9. Japan: -$2.8 billion (2.2%)
10. Ukraine: -$2.5 billion (2%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 75.1% of Turkey’s subtotal deficit of -$127.3 billion from the 77 geographic entities with which Turkey demonstrated strong import demand. That subtotal excludes the 148 geographic entities with which Turkey earned trade surpluses.

Turkey grew its trade deficit amounts with the geographic entities below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014, providing evidence of accelerating demand for exports from these international suppliers.

1. St. Pierre/Miquelon: Up 4,000% since 2010 (-US$123,000)
2. Greece: Up 2,848% (-$2.5 billion)
3. Portugal: Up 434.2% (-$205.1 million)
4. Cambodia: Up 330.8% (-$101.2 million)
5. Bulgaria: Up 294.1% (-$806.4 million)
6. Qatar: Up 243.1% (-$49.7 million)
7. Côte d’Ivoire: Up 195.2% (-$145.5 million)
8. Vietnam: Up 185.5% (-$1.8 billion)
9. Niue: Up 160.7% (-$146,000)
10. Colombia: Up 158.7% (-$631 million)

From the above list, Turkey mostly showed major product sales disadvantages versus this group of traders with comparatively small populations and for generally small deficit amounts. However, Turkey did generate billion-dollar negative trade balances with Greece and Vietnam while its deficit against Bulgaria was also formidable.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest Turkish deficits in international trade with China.

1. Phone system devices: -US$2.6 billion (11.9% of Turkey’s deficit vs. China)
2. Computers, optical readers: -$1.8 billion (8.2%)
3. TV/radio/radar device parts: -$561.4 million (2.5%)
4. Synthetic filament yarn: -$460.4 million (2.1%)
5. Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs: -$426.7 million (1.9%)
6. Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys: -$351.1 million (1.6%)
7. Electrical converters/power units: -$312.8 million (1.4%)
8. Automobile parts/accessories: -$309.3 million (1.4%)
9. Cases, handbags, wallets: -$284.5 million (1.3%)
10. Printing machinery: -$283.7 million (1.3%)

Among these, lamps, lighting and illuminated signs had the fastest-growing Turkish deficit with China accelerating by 66.2% from 2010 to 2014. In second place were phone system devices up 59.6% followed by automobile parts and accessories increasing by 36%.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest Turkish deficits in international trade with Russia.

1. Processed petroleum oils: -US$3.7 billion (19.3% of Turkey’s deficit vs. Russia)
2. Wheat: -$1.2 billion (6%)
3. Aluminum (unwrought): -$1.1 billion (5.7%)
4. Iron or steel scrap: -$1 billion (5.4%)
5. Petroleum gases: -$909.1 million (4.7%)
6. Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: -$874.9 million (4.5%)
7. Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): -$618.4 million (3.2%)
8. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: -$354.6 million (1.8%)
9. Nitrogenous fertilizers: -$285.5 million (1.5%)
10. Copper wire: -$250.5 million (1.3%)

Among these, nitrogenous fertilizers had the fastest-growing Turkish deficit with Russia accelerating by 67.5% from 2010 to 2014. In second place was wheat up 59.3% followed by sun, safflower and cotton-seed oil increasing by 35.8%.

Below are the products that resulted in the greatest Turkish deficits in international trade with Germany.

1. Cars: -US$2.4 billion (32.7% of Turkey’s deficit vs. Germany)
2. Medication mixes in dosage: -$479.3 million (6.6%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: -$432.7 million (6%)
4. Engines (diesel): -$390.6 million (5.4%)
5. Gold (unwrought): -$340.3 million (4.7%)
6. Miscellaneous machinery: -$288.8 million (4%)
7. Blood fractions (including antisera): -$253.6 million (3.5%)
8. Textile fiber work machines: -$213.7 million (3%)
9. Electric generating sets, converters: -$211.1 million (2.9%)
10. Iron or steel scrap: -$209.6 million (2.9%)

Among these, textile fiber work machines had the fastest-growing Turkish deficit with Germany accelerating by 52.2% from 2010 to 2014. In second place were blood fractions including antisera, up 26.6% followed by unwrought gold increasing by 22.3%.