Turkish exporters call for lower costs and stronger price competitiveness

Turkey’s exporters say high costs are costing them overseas markets.

The concern was raised by Mustafa Gültepe, head of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, as he presented findings on export competitiveness.

Turkish goods are reported to cost 50 to 60 percent more than rivals’ products in dollar terms, despite strengths in quality, service and flexibility.

Exporters say this leaves them squeezed between lower-cost Asian producers and competitors in Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

Turkey’s share of global exports fell from 1.08 percent to 0.98 percent in two years, and insured employment in manufacturing dropped by 480,000 over four years, according to Gültepe.

He called for more affordable financing, an exchange rate that better tracks input costs, and balanced inflation; he also asked to raise an existing currency-conversion support rate from 3 percent to 8 percent.

Exporters say better price competitiveness is needed before firms can invest more in research, technology and production, but no policy changes or next steps are specified.