ISTANBUL

Strengthening relations between Türkiye and Italy have contributed to a rise in Turkish exports to Italy, which climbed around 5% in January–November as cooperation expands into digital sectors.

Turkish exports to Italy reached $11.3 billion as of November, while monthly exports increased 1.6% year-on-year to $1.6 billion, according to data from the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM).

Türkiye’s total exports grew 3.7% annually in the first 11 months of the year to $247.1 billion and rose 2.2% in November to $22 billion, despite rising protectionist trade measures globally led by the Trump administration in the US.

Exports to Italy accounted for 4.6% of Türkiye’s total shipments in January–November.

The automotive sector led Türkiye’s exports to Italy with $3 billion, down 2.4%. Chemicals followed with a 20% increase to $1.5 billion. Steel exports rose 2.7% to $1 billion, ferrous and non-ferrous metals surged 26.5% to $955.4 million, while textiles and raw materials declined 2.4% to $692.8 million.

Istanbul recorded the highest exports to Italy at $4.1 billion, followed by Kocaeli with $1.4 billion, Bursa with $1.2 billion, Izmir with $702.8 million and Ankara with $460 million.

– Digitalization drives Türkiye–Italy trade momentum

Stefano Kaslowski, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Türkiye (CCIIST), told Anadolu that Türkiye could assume a greater strategic role in Europe by supplying the bloc with key materials from neighboring countries.

Kaslowski said the chamber is marking its 140th anniversary and continues to strengthen economic ties between Türkiye and Italy. He said bilateral cooperation has reached a new level and that the two countries need each other now more than ever.

“We’ve been cooperating in more traditional sectors for many years, and while we believe this will continue — whether it be in textiles or the automotive sector — digitalization is naturally coming to the fore in this new era,” he said.

Kaslowski said progress toward the $40 billion bilateral trade target is accelerating but obstacles remain, including the need to update the EU–Türkiye Customs Union to allow freer movement of goods.

He warned that aggressively priced Chinese products have gained significant market share in Europe and Türkiye, threatening industrial competitiveness.

“Europe and Türkiye have to decide how to defend themselves against this threat, and quickly, too,” he said. “Otherwise, our closed industrial sectors will not reopen, and we will be entirely dependent on the outside — we need to protect our industrialists and sectors in a coordinated manner, because if not, this asymmetry will deepen further, hence making renewing the Customs Union even more difficult.”

Kaslowski said Europe is lagging behind China and the US in digital transformation and artificial intelligence due to high energy costs. He argued that Türkiye, with access to resources in Azerbaijan and other neighbors, offers affordable energy options.

“Türkiye can act as a corridor here, helping Europe close the energy gap in digital transformation,” he added.

Kaslowski said the bilateral trade volume could eventually target $100 billion, far beyond the current objective.

“We have many commonalities, promoting synergy, friendship and trust — we can discuss even higher trade targets, as all is in our hands to achieve this goal,” he added.