Türkiye's services exports rose 6.5% in 2025 to a record $124.9 billion (TL 6.05 trillion), exceeding the government's target and contributing significantly to financing the country's current account deficit, the Trade Ministry said on Friday.
The figure surpassed the previous year's $117.3 billion and was also above the $122.6 billion reported earlier in the central bank's balance of payments data, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
Services imports increased 9.6% to $61.9 billion from $56.4 billion in 2024, leaving Türkiye with a services trade surplus of $63 billion, up 3.6% from a year earlier.
The result exceeded the government's 2025 services exports target of $121 billion, the ministry said.
"Türkiye has reached its highest-ever services exports figure and set a new record," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the country ranked 22nd globally in services exports.
Türkiye's services exports have expanded significantly over the past two decades. They totaled $14 billion in 2002, accounting for 0.89% of global services exports, compared with $762 million and a 0.19% share in 1980.
Between 2002 and 2025, Türkiye's services exports grew at an average annual rate of 10%, outpacing the World Bank's reported 7.5% average annual growth in global services exports.
Türkiye ranked sixth globally among countries with a services trade surplus in 2025, according to the ministry.
Travel services accounted for 48.1% of Türkiye's total services exports in 2025, broadly unchanged from 48% a year earlier.
Transport services ranked second, although their share fell to 34.1% from 35.1%. Transport exports rose 3.5% to $42.57 billion in 2025 from $41.13 billion a year earlier.
"Other business services" ranked third, accounting for 6.3% of total services exports.
Telecommunications, computer and information services recorded one of the fastest rates of growth, with exports rising 25.3% year-over-year to $6.72 billion.
On the import side, transport accounted for 32% of total services imports in 2025, down from 38.1% in 2024. Other business services increased its share to 16.9% from 16.1%, while travel services accounted for 14.5%.
The European Union was Türkiye's largest trading bloc for services excluding travel in 2025.
Services exports to EU countries totaled $25.33 billion, while exports to other European countries stood at $9.26 billion.
Imports from the EU reached $24.73 billion, compared with $6.45 billion from other European countries.
EU countries accounted for 37.9% of Türkiye's total services exports excluding travel and 45.3% of its services imports.
The United States was Türkiye's largest individual market for services excluding travel, receiving $8.34 billion, or 12.9% of total exports. Germany followed with an 11.5% share, while Britain ranked third with 6.6%.
The three countries together accounted for 31% of Türkiye's services exports excluding travel.
Ireland was the largest source of services imports, with $6.67 billion, or 12.6% of the total. Britain followed with $4.80 billion, while the United States ranked third with $4.38 billion.
