Emerging as a new arms exporter that can provide more efficient, low cost, combat proven and less problematic products for arms buyers, the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry has increased exports by 16.1% during January-November 2018 compared to the same period last year. 

According to export figures revealed by the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) on December 1st, 2018, from January 1st – November 30th of 2018, the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Sector exported a total of US$1.782,054 Billion, while the said figure was at the US$1.535,530 Billion level during the same period of last year. 

The Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry’s total arms exports amounted to around US$228.312 Million in November 2018, which represents a 31,9% increase compared to November 2017 and a 11% increase compared to October 2018. According to data released by the TIM, the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry realized US$106.506 Million in defence and aerospace equipment exports in January, US$149.655 Million in February, US$147.927 Million in March, US$189.961 Million in April, US$190.016 Million in May, US$123.042 Million in June, US$197.344 Million in July, US$119.775 Million in August, US$122.786 Million in September and US$206.730 Million in October. As such,in November the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry realized the highest export figure of 2018.

According to data released by the TIM, the total weight of products exported by the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry in November 2018 is 5.095,628kg (it was 4.660.756kg in October). So, the average price of Turkish defence & aerospace export products has reached to US$22.318 per kilogram. According to TIM figures the average price of Turkish export products was US$1.28 per kilogram in 2017. The per kilogram export value of the ‘T129 ATAK Helicopter’, which is one of the high added value, indigenously developed platform solutions of the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry, is around US$10,000.

According to TIM figures the list of the top 15 countries that imported defence and aerospace products from Turkey during January 1st – November 30th of 2018 is composed of: the US, Germany, Oman, the Netherlands, India, Qatar, the UK, Poland, France, Azerbaijan, UAE, Spain, Belgium, Malaysia and Canada.

With a total of around US$644.029 Million (representing a 3.48% increase compared to the same period last year), in purchases, the United States was the largest recipient/importer (mainly military and civil helicopter and aircraft parts, and component sales realized under offset commitments), followed by Germany with US$211.684 Million (represents an 11.37% increase compared to the same period last year), Oman with around US$150,515 Million (represents a 1.025.20% increase compared to the same period last year, one of the largest in terms of the rate of increase, mainly stemming from FNSS PARS III ACV deliveries to the Royal Omani Army), the Netherlands with US$72.351 Million (represents a 516.80% increase compared to the same period last year and mainly stemming from Aselsan’s SMART-S Mk2 3D radar T/R module deliveries to Thales), India with around US$71.685 Million (represents a 13.73% decrease compared to the same period last year), Qatar with around US$70.981 Million (represents a 711.90% increase compared to the same period last year, one of the largest in terms of the rate of increase, and is believed to be stemming from armored vehicles and fast intervention boats sales/deliveries to the UAE Armed Forces), the UK with US$50.660 Million, Poland with US$48,409 Million, France with around US$44.505 Million,  Azerbaijan with around US$37.465 Million, UAE with US$34.032 Million (represents a 1.025.20% increase compared to the same period last year, mainly stemming from Otokar’s RABDAN 8x8 III ACV deliveries to the UAE Army), Spain with US$27,275 Million, Belgium with US$19.315 Million, Malaysia with US$18.305 Million (represents a 49.59% decrease compared to the same period last year), and Canada with US$15.131 Million.

According to TIM’s figures during January 1st – November 30th of 2018, the Turkish Defence & Aerospace Industry  exported US$661.357 Million (which was US$637.775 Million  during the same period last year) in defence and aerospace equipment to North America/US, US$519.832 Million (which was US$447.051 Million during the same period last year) to EU Member Countries, US$19.345 Million to other European countries, around US$285.815 Million (which was at around US$103.194 Million  during the same period last year) to the Middle East countries, US$71.364 Million (which was US$84.432 Million  during the same period last year) to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), around US$102.987 Million (which was US$116.255 Million  during the same period last year) to other Asian countries, around US$50.253 Million (which was US$62.968 Million  during the same period last year) to African countries and around US$47.587 Million (which was US$55.901 Million during the same period last year) to countries in the Far East.

Turkey aimed to increase its combined turnover to US$6 Billion and arms exports to US$2 Billion by the end of 2016. But due to internal and external reasons this target could not yet be accomplished. But in 2018 Turkey’s defence and aerospace industry exports, which were US$1.782,054 Billion as of November, are expected to top US$2 Billion.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s top exporting industries during the first 11 months of 2018 were automotive, textile and chemicals sectors, at US$29.098 Billion, US$16.343 Billion and US$15.871 Billion respectively.