Automotive exports to Germany, the largest market by country group, in September rose by 15 percent to $360 million, while the industry's exports increased by 10.9 percent compared to the same period the previous year, reaching $2.2 billion. According to Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters Association (OİB) data, exports in the sector, which amounted to 19 percent of total exports in September, increased by 22 percent to $20.8 billion in the January-September period.

Exports to Germany, with which Turkey has had tumultuous political relations recently, threatened by economic sanctions, rose 15 percent to $360 million, a 27 percent increase in automobiles and 10 percent in sub-industry exports were influential in the overall increase in exports to Germany.

Exports to France increased by 5 percent to $231 million and Italy by 13 percent to $228 million, as a 24 percent decline in automobile exports and 14 percent decline in motor vehicles for goods transport affected the overall decline in exports to Italy.

Exports to the U.S. rose by 118 percent followed by Poland with 20 percent, the UK and Spain with 18 percent each, and Belgium with 15 percent, while exports to Romania dropped by 17 percent, followed by Austria with 13 percent and the Russian Federation with 10 percent.

The increase of 118 percent in automotive exports to the U.S., one of the world's largest markets, was affected by an increase of 61,149 percent in the automobile group. Sub-industry exports to the U.S. also increased by 10 percent. Again, the increase to the U.K. was attributable to an 82 percent increase in motor vehicles for goods transport while a 78 percent increase in automobile and 15 percent rise in sub-industry exports were influential in the overall increase in exports to Spain.

The sector, which managed to exceed $2 billion in exports in all months of this year apart from August, maintained its leadership by taking a 19 percent share of Turkey's exports. Exports in the automotive sector for the first nine months increased 22 percent to $20.8 billion.

In terms of product groups, the sector performed in double digits in automobile exports in September. High increases in exports to the United States, one of the world's largest markets in automobiles, continued. Having achieved a record increase of 109,752 percent in automobile exports to the U.S. last August, the sector also realized an increase of 61,149 percent in exports of the same group to the world's giant market in September.

According to OİB September data, passenger automobile exports increased by 19.5 percent to $849 million, automotive sub-industry exports increased by 9 percent to $795 million, exports of motor vehicles for goods transport climbed by 5 percent to $361 million and bus-minibus exports rose by 0.1 percent to $101 million.

Exports to Germany, the leader in sub-industry exports, increased 10 percent, followed by Spain with 15 percent, Italy with 24 percent, Russia with 37 percent and Slovenia with 257 percent. Sub-industry exports to Romania fell 21 percent while exports to Italy - the largest market for automobiles - dropped 24 percent. Exports to Germany, on the other hand, increased 27 percent, following Poland with 31 percent, Belgium with 60 percent and Spain with 78 percent. Exports to the United States surged 61,149 percent.

Exports to the U.K., the leader in motor vehicles for goods transport, increased 82 percent, followed by Denmark with 75 percent, France with 25 percent and Italy with 14 percent. Exports to Slovenia and Germany decreased 10 percent and 23 percent, respectively. The increase in exports to Germany, which leads the way in the bus-minibus product group, stood at 51 percent.

Meanwhile, there was a decrease of 15 percent in exports to France, 38 percent to the U.K. and 84 percent to Slovenia.

The increase in exports to EU countries, which is the biggest market for the Turkish automotive industry, continued in September. Exports to EU countries, which accounted for 78 percent of exports, rose 7 percent to $1.7 billion in September.