Fifty-four provinces in Türkiye recorded year-over-year increases in exports in the first seven months of the year, while 22 surpassed $1 billion (TL 48.10 billion) in shipments, the Trade Ministry said Tuesday.

Türkiye's total exports rose 2.9% on an annual basis to $25.6 billion in what marked the highest-ever July shipments. In the January-July period, exports grew 3.4% to $161.6 billion.

Istanbul remained the country's largest exporting province last month, with exports of about $5.9 billion, although its shipments fell 0.6% from a year earlier, the data showed.

The northwestern Kocaeli ranked second with almost $3.4 billion, down 1%, followed by the western Izmir with nearly $2.1 billion, up 6.9%.

Precious and semi-precious stones were Istanbul's largest export category, generating $968.3 million. Knitted clothing and accessories followed with $517.2 million, while boilers and machinery accounted for $498 million.

Istanbul's largest export market was the U.S., with shipments worth $406.7 million, followed by Germany at $352.6 million and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at $344 million.

In Kocaeli, motor vehicles were the leading export category at $1.2 billion, followed by mineral fuels and oils at $335.9 million and electrical machinery and equipment at $334.8 million.

Germany was Kocaeli's largest export market at $339.1 million, followed by the U.K. with $334.1 million and the U.S. with $169.6 million.

Mineral fuels and oils led Izmir's exports at $351.3 million, followed by motor vehicles at $233.8 million and boilers and machinery at $212.5 million.

Germany was Izmir's largest export destination at $191.9 million, followed by the U.S. at $128.5 million and Niger at $119.7 million.

Southern Mersin posted the largest increase in export value among provinces last month, with exports rising by $194 million from a year earlier.

Izmir ranked second with a $135 million increase, followed by southern Antalya with a $129 million rise.