Turkish Defense & Aerospace Sector Increased Exports by 47.8% During the First Four Months of 2021!
Exporting its defense products to over 140 countries around the world Turkey is targeting to become a top six country in the world in terms of defense and aerospace exports. According to the “Strategic Plan 2019-2023,” document issued by the SSB on December 4, 2019, the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Sector’s annual turnover will rise to US$26.9 Billion, from US$8,761 Billion in 2018, defense and aerospace (both military and commercial) exports to US$10.2 Billion and the local content rate in defense and aerospace projects will reach 75% by the end of 2023, the year that will mark the first centennial of the Republic of Turkey.
The Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry closed the year 2020 with export revenues of US$2.279 Billion, which represents a 16.8% decrease in exports of defense and aerospace products compared to 2019, and has managed to increase its exports with impressive figures during the first four months of 2021. As per monthly export data announced by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry exports increased by 3.7% in January, 34.1% in February, 74.6% in March and 47.8% in April compared to the same period the previous year, despite the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Export revenues are expected to increase further in 2021 and even exceed 2019’s numbers (US$2.740.144 Billion according to TIM data), which closed at record high.
According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) data, the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Industry realized US$166.997 Million in defense and aerospace equipment exports in January, US$233.225 Million in February, US$246.973 Million in March, and US$302.549 Million in April. According to TIM’s data, from January 1st – April 30th of 2021, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Sector exported a total of US$949.744 Million (this represents a 47.8% increase compared to the US$642.593 Million realized during the same period last year) in defense and aerospace products. In parallel to the steady, even sharp increase in export revenues, the total weight of products exported by the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry is also in an upward trend. According to data released by TIM, from January 1st – April 30th of 2021 the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry managed to export around 22.291kg in defense and aerospace equipment, which represents a 65.8% increase compared to the same period of the previous year (13.446kg). So as of the end of April 2021, the average price of Turkish Defense & Aerospace export products during first four months of 2021 reached US$42.6 per kilogram.
Providing more efficient, low cost, combat proven, and less problematic NATO-standard high-tech products for arms buyers, Turkey emerges as a new arms exporter. The Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry has managed to put 7 firms (Aselsan, TUSAŞ, BMC, Roketsan, STM, FNSS and Havelsan) on the list of the world’s 100 largest defense companies in 2020. According to TIM figures the list of the top 10 countries that imported defense and aerospace products from Turkey from January 1st – April 30th of 2021 is composed of: the U.S.A., Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, the UAE, Germany, the Russian Federation, Jordan, the UK and Italy.
As in previous periods, the U.S.A. ranked first in defense and aerospace industry exports during January 1st – April 30th of 2021. Exports to this country increased by 111.2% to US$105.867 Million (mainly military and civil helicopter and aircraft parts, and component sales realized under offset commitments). With a total of around US$56.772 Million in purchases, Bangladesh is the second largest recipient/importer (mainly stemming from ROKETSAN’s TRG-300 Tiger Missiles and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher Systems and ASELSAN’s radio sets for these vehicles, Bangladesh also declared interest to purchase 12 HURKUŞ-B from TUSAŞ), followed by Azerbaijan with US$35.358 Million (represents a 20,378.9% increase compared to 2020). Tunisia with US$22,734 Million (this represents a 56.601% increase compared to 2020 and mainly stems from a US$150 Million contract awarded during the second half of 2020 and covers the deliveries of products from 5 Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry companies including TUSAŞ’ ANKA-S Armed UAVs, NUROL MAKİNA’s EJDER YALÇIN 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles and ASELSAN’s electro-optic systems) ranked 4th in the list. The UAE ranked 5th with a 60.7% drop to US$21.340 Million. These countries were followed by Germany with US$12.987 Million, the Russian Federation with around US$10.691 Million (this represents a 4.377% increase compared to the same period last year), Jordan with US$10.536 Million, the U.K. with around US$3.987 Million and Italy with around US$1.816 Million.
According to TIM’s data from January 1st – April 30th of 2021, the Turkish Defense & Aerospace Industry exported US$394.159 Million (this represents a 54.3% increase compared to 2020) in defense and aerospace equipment to North America/U.S.A., US$94,343 Million (this represents a 27.2% increase compared to 2020) to EU Member Countries, US$16.823 Million to other European countries, around US$137.799 Million (this represents around an 11.9% increase compared to 2020) to Middle East countries, US$156.488 Million to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), around US$73.873 Million to other Asian countries, around US$52.510 Million to African countries and around US$9.438 Million (this represents a 72.1% decrease compared to 2020) to countries in the Far East.
