Machinery Export Unit Price Hits Record: Karavelioğlu Sends Strategic Partnership Message to EU

Record Unit Price in Machinery Exports According to data from the Machinery Exporters' Association (MAİB), the machinery sector began 2024 with revenue-based growth driven by rising unit export prices, despite a 13.8% decrease in volume.
The sector broke an all-time record by increasing its export price to $9.9 per kilogram, bringing January export revenues to $2.2 billion, a 3.3% increase.
The sector's annualized exports have approached the $28 billion mark.
Exports to Germany, the sector's largest market, rose by 12.2% in January to reach $283 million.
MAİB President Kutlu Karavelioğlu described the increase in unit value as a strategic success, despite the reflections of domestic demand contraction and a lack of investment appetite on the sector.
Emphasis on Strategic Integration with Europe Addressing the ongoing "European Preference" discussions within the European Union (EU), Karavelioğlu reminded that Turkey is a partner deeply integrated with the EU in terms of production, investment, and standards.
He noted that initiatives to include Turkey, as a Customs Union partner, in agreements made with third countries are of critical importance.
"Competitiveness is built on a balance of cost control and protectionism.
This balance cannot be established without including Turkey.
It would not be a rational choice to exclude a partner so integrated with the EU," Karavelioğlu stated.
Protecting Domestic Production and Chinese Imports Karavelioğlu characterized the 15.7% increase in machinery imports from China, which rose to $12.8 billion, as a risk to domestic production.
He emphasized the need to bring idle capacity back into the economy.
Stating that the use of policy tools to protect production scales is legitimate, Karavelioğlu added that strategic protectionist measures are now being implemented by all administrations worldwide.