Turkey's exports totaled $59.8 billion in January-April this year, the country's trade ministry announced Friday.
According to the general trade system, which is one of the two methods used to calculate foreign trade statistics, exports surged 3.77 percent on a yearly basis, the data revealed.
The country's imports amounted to some $68.6 billion, marking an annual decrease of 19.82 percent over the same period.
The ministry stated that the four-month exports-to-imports coverage ratio was 87.2 percent.
In April, Turkey's exports rose by 5.38 percent year-on-year to nearly $15.3 billion. Imports, on the other hand, posted a 14.62 percent annual decline to $18.1 billion.
Preliminary figures revealed that the country's foreign trade balance showed a deficit of $2.8 billion last month, improving from $6.7 billion deficit a year ago.
In the calculation of foreign trade statistics, two different methods are used -- the special trade system and the general trade system.
Calculations based on the special trade system do not include free zones and customs warehouses.
The general trade system is a wider concept, including customs warehouses, all types of free zones, free circulation areas and premises for inward processing.
By Muhammed Ali Gurtas
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr