Türkiye’s exports to Italy rose 7.5% within the first 5 months of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, reaching $5.34 billion (TL 211.66 billion), in line with official information, as bilateral commerce between the 2 nations continues to steadily develop.
The rise comes amid broader efforts by Türkiye to strengthen commerce ties with close by nations, whilst international financial uncertainty continues as a consequence of geopolitical tensions and protectionist insurance policies.
Italy stays one in all Türkiye’s high commerce companions throughout the European Union, and up to date diplomatic efforts have helped increase financial cooperation. In April, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni co-chaired the 4th Türkiye-Italy Intergovernmental Summit in Rome, the place the 2 nations signed 11 new agreements spanning protection, power, innovation, tradition and transportation.
“Türkiye and Italy are two strong allies navigating a period where global and regional developments are pushing us toward closer cooperation,” Erdoğan stated following the summit. He famous that partnerships within the protection sector would proceed to increase.
According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), exports to Italy in May alone reached $1.14 billion, an 8% enhance year-over-year. Italy accounted for 4.8% of Türkiye’s whole exports from January by May, which totaled $110.95 billion, up 3.5% from the identical interval final 12 months.
The automotive trade led Turkish exports to Italy, bringing in $1.3 billion. Other high sectors included chemical compounds at $777 million, ferrous and non-ferrous metals at $472.5 million, metal at $456.1 million and textiles at $327 million.
While automotive and textile exports noticed slight annual declines of 5.6% and 1.8%, respectively, chemical compounds rose 14.6%, metals jumped 37.4% and metal grew 9.4%.
Istanbul was the highest exporting province to Italy, accounting for $1.8 billion in shipments. Kocaeli adopted with $727.4 million, Bursa with $514.6 million, Izmir with $327.2 million and Ankara with $208.2 million.
In an interview on Tuesday, Stefano Kaslowski, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Türkiye (CCIIST), stated the figures mirror the energy and potential of business ties between the 2 nations.
“This success is not a coincidence but a result of deep-rooted, long-standing relations,” Kaslowski informed Anadolu Agency (AA). “We’ve been bringing the Turkish and Italian business communities together since 1885.”
Kaslowski famous that greater than 1,500 Italian firms function in Italy with industrial ties to Türkiye, and lots of have sturdy funding footprints within the nation. He stated Italy’s position as Türkiye’s second-largest EU commerce associate highlights its strategic significance.
The bilateral commerce quantity reached $28 billion in 2023, and each nations are aiming to exceed $40 billion within the coming years, in line with Kaslowski.
He stated the rising commerce figures counsel not simply numerical development, however a “structural transformation,” pushed by enhancing Turkish high quality requirements, higher alignment with Italian market wants, and logistics enhancements.
Kaslowski emphasised that Italy’s industrial energy in sectors resembling equipment, prescription drugs, automotive and luxurious items, coupled with its push towards inexperienced and digital transformation, creates vital alternatives for Turkish companies.
Likewise, Türkiye’s younger inhabitants, manufacturing capability and geographic location make it a horny vacation spot for Italian buyers, he stated. He additionally underlined the significance of modernizing the EU-Türkiye Customs Union to facilitate additional commerce.
As a part of its position, CCIIST gives providers together with business matchmaking, commerce honest coordination, market analysis and advisory assist for brand new ventures. The group additionally arranges bilateral delegations, seminars, and networking occasions.
Recent CCIIST occasions, such because the “Risks and Opportunities in Türkiye-Italy Foreign Trade” roundtable, introduced collectively sector specialists and officers to seek out sensible options to widespread commerce challenges, resembling customs optimization and price discount.
Kaslowski expressed optimism concerning the future, particularly in areas like sustainability, digital transformation and inexperienced applied sciences.
“If the current trend continues, we expect exports to Italy to reach $12 billion-13 billion by year-end,” he stated. “But our goal isn’t just to grow in numbers – we aim to develop high-value, technology-intensive and sustainable trade relationships.”
He added that deeper cooperation between companies, assist for joint R&D and funding in new-generation entrepreneurs can be key to reaching that imaginative and prescient.
Source: www.dailysabah.com