Located mostly in Western Asia but with a smaller presence in Southeast Europe, the Republic of Turkey imported US$219.5 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a 4.4% increase from $210.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Turkey’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

A transcontinental geographic entity, Turkey shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to its northwest. Turkey also has common borders with Georgia to its northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to its east, Iraq to its southeast, and Syria to its south.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Turkish imports during 2020 for each of Turkey’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over half (53.6%) of total Turkish import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Turkish imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Turkey’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Turkey amounted to $23 billion or 10.5% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 20.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.9% of Turkey’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $6.9 billion
Machinery: $6.1 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.1 billion
Plastics: $818 million
Medical, technical equipment: $719.3 million
Man-made filaments: $589.9 million
Vehicles: $588.6 million
Iron and steel: $552.4 million
Iron or steel products: $498.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $350.4 million
Other chemical goods: $255.3 million
Paper: $228.1 million
Toys, games: $210.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $206 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $197.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from China under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 101.4% gain in revenue, machinery (up 57.3%), vehicles (up 32.5%), electronic equipment (up 30.2%), products made from iron or steel (up 29.2%) and iron and steel as materials (up 24%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were man-made filaments (down -27.4%) and paper (down -15.1%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Turkey amounted to $21.7 billion or 9.9% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 12.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.2% of Turkey’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $4.3 billion
Vehicles: $4 billion
Electronic equipment: $2 billion
Plastics: $1.5 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.08 billion
Gems, precious metals: $1.06 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $819.3 million
Iron and steel: $714.3 million
Iron or steel products: $570.5 million
Other chemical goods: $433 million
Organic chemicals: $398.9 million
Paper: $385.4 million
Railway, tram equipment: $317.2 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $314.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from Germany under the railway or tram equipment product category via a 401.9% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 64.8%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 41.8%) and electronic equipment (up 24%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were products made from iron or steel (down -29.2%), iron then steel as materials (down -18.2%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to Turkey amounted to $17.8 billion or 8.1% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -22.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.6% of Turkey’s imports from Russia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $8.3 billion
Iron and steel: $2.7 billion
Cereals: $1.7 billion
Aluminum: $1.1 billion
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $539 million
Copper: $537.6 million
Gems, precious metals: $437.7 million
Oil seed: $354.9 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $352.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $269.6 million
Plastics: $241.4 million
Organic chemicals: $154.9 million
Machinery: $150.8 million
Ores, slag, ash: $143 million
Paper: $111.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from Russia under the gems and precious metals product category via a 791.9% gain in revenue, machinery (up 360.8%), plastics as a material (up 205.4%), oil seed (up 121.9%), copper (up 91.1%) and animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 63.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -43%), organic chemicals (down -18.2%) then iron and steel as materials (down -16.1%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Turkey amounted to $11.5 billion or 5.3% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87% of Turkey’s imports from America.

Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.9 billion
Machinery: $1.3 billion
Iron and steel: $1.26 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $648.4 million
Organic chemicals: $626.1 million
Plastics: $612.1 million
Cotton: $592.4 million
Electronic equipment: $580.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $536.5 million
Fruits, nuts: $243.1 million
Vehicles: $201.7 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $179.4 million
Other chemical goods: $177.1 million
Woodpulp: $156 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from the United States under the organic chemicals product category via a 38.9% gain in revenue, mineral fuels including oil (up 23.3%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 13.5%) then food waste or animal fodder (up 9.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -21.4%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -20.6%), electronic equipment (down -20.2%), fruits and nuts (down -17.5%), pharmaceuticals (down -15.6%) and vehicles (down -10.3%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Turkey amounted to $9.2 billion or 5.3% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 77.5% of Turkey’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $2.3 billion
Vehicles: $903.3 million
Plastics: $699.4 million
Electronic equipment: $551.1 million
Iron and steel: $401.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $343.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $312.7 million
Iron or steel products: $265.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $251.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $210.1 million
Other chemical goods: $192.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $173.7 million
Paper: $163.8 million
Rubber: $161.6 million
Organic chemicals: $153.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from Italy under the vehicles product category via a 40.2% gain in revenue, iron and steel as materials (up 10.3%) and electronic equipment (up 9.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -39.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -35.9%) and paper (down -7.6%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from Iraq

In 2020, Iraq’s exports to Turkey amounted to $8.2 billion or 3.7% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 206.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.8% of Turkey’s imports from Iraq.

Gems, precious metals: $7.9 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $129.3 million
Copper: $50.8 million
Lead: $18.2 million
Woodpulp: $10.8 million
Raw hides excluding furskins: $8 million
Plastics: $6.6 million
Meat: $3.2 million
Other chemical goods: $2.6 million
Aluminum: $2.5 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $2.2 million
Machinery: $2 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $1.7 million
Fruits, nuts: $1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $998,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from Iraq under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 472.9% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 231.0%), perfumes and cosmetics (up 81.1%), machinery (up 62.1%), meat (up 21.6%) and lead (up 11.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -69.1%), fruits and nuts (down -48.2%), plastics as a material (down -32.4%), vegetable or fruit preparations (down -28%), raw hides excluding furskins (down -20.4%) and woodpulp (down -20.2%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to Turkey amounted to $7.8 billion or 3.5% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 130.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.3% of Turkey’s imports from Switzerland.

Gems, precious metals: $6.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $305.4 million
Machinery: $256.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $143.2 million
Clocks, watches: $131.5 million
Organic chemicals: $122.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $110.6 million
Electronic equipment: $82.5 million
Plastics: $63.3 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $45.2 million
Other food preparations: $34.8 million
Beverages: $18.9 million
Other chemical goods: $17.7 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $17.4 million
Iron and steel: $16.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from Switzerland under the gems and precious metals product category via a 237.7% gain in revenue, beverages (up 40.2%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 39.4%), medical or technical equipment (up 35.8%), base metal tools or cutlery (up 30.3%) and machinery (up 10.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -25.3%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -15.4%), organic chemicals (down -12.1%) and electronic equipment: (down -11.1%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Turkey amounted to $7 billion or 3.2% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 3.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.3% of Turkey’s imports from France.

Vehicles: $1.4 billion
Machinery: $822.5 million
Iron and steel: $691.4 million
Plastics: $551.7 million
Electronic equipment: $538.1 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $459.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $264.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $258.5 million
Other chemical goods: $250.2 million
Organic chemicals: $194.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $169.9 million
Rubber: $110.1 million
Iron or steel products: $107.7 million
Ships, boats: $93.2 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $78.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from France under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 59% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 57.5%), ships and boats (up 57.3%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 13.9%) then medical or technical equipment (up 13.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were perfumes and cosmetics (down -37%), pharmaceuticals (down -27.8%), organic chemicals (down -27.6%), rubber (down -15%) then iron and steel as materials (down -14.7%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Turkey amounted to s$5.7 billion or 2.6% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.2% of Turkey’s imports from South Korea.

Plastics: $1 billion
Iron and steel: $876.8 million
Machinery: $668.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $593 million
Organic chemicals: $448.1 million
Vehicles: $446.1 million
Electronic equipment: $360.6 million
Man-made filaments: $207.6 million
Rubber: $148.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $132.7 million
Iron or steel products: $99.1 million
Aluminum: $79 million
Man-made staple fibers: $73.1 million
Ships, boats: $69.3 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $58.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from South Korea under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 48.7% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 45.6%), medical or technical equipment (up 24.9%), machinery (up 21.4%), vehicles (up 21.2%) and aluminum (up 19.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were ships and boats (down -78.6%), man-made filaments (down -17.3%), man-made staple fibers (down -9.6%) and plastics (down -9.5%).

Turkey’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Turkey amounted to $5.6 billion or 2.6% of overall Turkish imports.

That dollar amount represents a 27.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.5% of Turkey’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Gems, precious metals: $5.2 billion
Aluminum: $142.9 million
Plastics: $122.9 million
Electronic equipment: $9.8 million
Machinery: $9.3 million
Fertilizers: $9.2 million
Paper: $8.5 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $8 million
Other chemical goods: $6.8 million
Man-made filaments: $6.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $4.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $3 million
Iron and steel: $2.5 million
Lead: $2.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $2.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Turkish imports from the United Arab Emirates under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 5,096% gain in revenue, paper (up 434.1%), perfumes and cosmetics (up 142.1%), gems and precious metals (up 39.8%), lead (up 35%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 16.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Turkey’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -96.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -62.4%), aluminum (down -22.4%), fertilizers (down -19.2%), machinery (down -18.4%) and electronic equipment (down -18.3%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Turkey, Borders of Turkey

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Turkey’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries