The Defence and Aerospace Industry Exporters Association (SSI) awarded the companies with the most exports in 2018. Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. has been the export champion of the sector in 2018. The awards to Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. and other successful companies were delivered by the President of Defence Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR and Chairman of the SSI Latif Aral ALİŞ at the award ceremony which was held before the SSI’s General Meeting.

In his speech, SSI Chairman of the Board Latif Aral ALİŞ stated that the sector has been making its mark with a new success story every day and said, “The success of our sector means a secure and peaceful future for our existence, and for a fully independent Turkey. We are extremely happy to observe all the segments of our society adopting the importance of our Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry. Instead of following, we are now manufacturing the technology and products that are being followed”.

Stating that the stability in the export figures is the most crucial indicator of this development, ALİŞ continued, “We increased our exports by 130 percent since our establishment. In 2018, our exports exceeded US$ 2 billion. We are the sector that increased the most in its exports in the first three months of 2019. Moreover, our export per kilogram reached US$ 46.59. Turkey’s average is US$ 1.32. Our contribution to the economy is almost 45 times more compared to other sectors”. 

Emphasizing that they have been continuing their activities uninterruptedly in order to increase the sector’s effectiveness in the regional and global markets, ALİŞ added, “We will be hosting the IDEF fair which will take place in two weeks in Istanbul. We will be hosting the critical representatives of the sector and country delegations and work toward launching projects that will develop our industry in the short and medium term”. 

In his speech, President of Defence Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR stated that President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN attached great importance to the defence industry and said that the President constantly brought the topic of the defence industry to the agenda during his contacts with the leaders of tforeign countries. 

A total of 15 awards in various categories were delivered in the ceremony. Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. was the first company on the list of the most exports, TEI remained at the second rank followed by the third company FNSS, Aselsan was the fourth company while Alp Havacılık Sanayi Ticaret was the fifth company to receive the award. FNSS received the award for increasing its exports the most, while Bahtiyar Av Malzemeleri Pazarlama İnşaat Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret LTD received the award for exporting to the highest number of countries. 

Other companies that received awards according to product groups were; “Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (Ammunition), Derya Silah Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. (Shotguns), Turaç Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti, (Cartridges), Feda Pazarlama ve Ticaret Ltd.Şti (Other weapons), ASELSAN Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Defence Electronics), Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (Air Vehicles and Parts), Yonca-Onuk Adi Ortaklığı (Vessels and Parts), FNSS Dış Ticaret A.Ş. (Land Vehicles and Parts)”. 

Defence Industry Exports Reached US$ 715 Million in the first 105 Days of 2019 

Data on the export performance of the Turkish Defence and Aerospace Sector in 2018 was also shared with the public at the Ordinary General Meeting of the SSI. 

In line with the data shared by the SSI, the Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry achieved exports worth US$ 2.035 in 2018 - representing an increase by 17.1% compared with 2017exports with an amount of US$ 1.738 Billion.

The sector achieved an export of US$ 715 Million during the period 1 January 2019 – 14 April 2019,  the total exports of the last 12 months from 1 April 2018 to 14 April 2019 was reported to reach US$ 2.235 Billion. The Turkish Defence and Aerospace Sector achieved an export total of US$ 174.808 Million in January 2019, US$ 171.626 Million in February and US$ 289.225 Million in March. The total of the first three months was US$ 635.659 Million.

According to the data provided by the SSI, the top 10 products exported in 2018 were listed as follows:

Other Components and Parts of Aircrafts and Helicopters (US$ 554.3 Million, 27%), Turbojets for Other Vehicles and Components and Parts of Turboprop Engines (US$ 338.7 Million, 17%), Tanks and Other Armored Battle Vehicles (US$ 309.7 Million, 15%), Turbojet Engines for Civil Air Vehicles (US$ 216.7 Million, 11%), Single-Barreled Shotguns (US$ 89.4 Million), Others (Defence Purposes US$ 72.3 Million), Other Components and Parts of Tanks and Other Battle Vehicles (US$ 42.1 Million), Smoothbore Hunting Rifles for Hunting or Targets (US$ 35.8 Million), Hunting Rifle Cases (US$ 32.4 Million), Revolvers and Pistols (US$ 26.4 Million) and Others  (US$ 317.7 Million). 

During 2018, according to the data presented regarding the export markets in the meeting, based on country groups, NAFTA Countries received the lion’s share (36.6%) in exports made by the Turkish Defence and Aerospace Sector which provides products and services to the world, EU Countries followed the first group with 27% and with US$ 549.4 Million, with US$ 310.5 Million Middle East Countries (15,3%) became the third group and were followed by Other Asian Countries with US$ 120.5 Million (5.9%). In line with the SSI’s data, the top 15 countries that realized defence exports in the year 2018 were as follows: USA (US$ 726.1 Million), Germany (US$ 226.1 Million), Oman (US$ 153.4 Million), Qatar (US$ 83.5 Million), Netherlands, India, United Kingdom, Poland, France, UAE, Ukraine, Spain, Senegal and Bangladesh (US 24.1 Million).

Members of the Association were informed on the 2018 activity report and targets for the year 2019 at the Ordinary General Meeting held after the award ceremony and data was shared following the ceremony.