ISTANBUL (AA) - Economists, who participated in the "Foreign Trade Expectation Survey" of AA Finance, expect the foreign trade deficit in March in Turkey to be 8.6 billion USD. The results of AA Finance's "Foreign Trade Expectation Survey" were published four days before TurkStat, Turkey's statistical authority, announced foreign trade figures for March. According to AA's survey participated by 14 economists, the foreign trade deficit in Turkey in March was 8.6 billion USD. Among the economists who have joined the AA survey, the maximum foreign trade deficit in March was indicated as 10.3 billion USD while the lowest foreign trade deficit in March was indicated as 7.7 billion USD. On the other hand, 14 economists predicted Turkey's exports in March to be worth 13.1 billion USD and imports 21.7 billion USD. Ten economists who have participated in AA's survey said they expected the year-end foreign trade deficit in Turkey to be 96 billion USD. Foreign trade deficit in Turkey in February went up 15.2 percent when compared to the same month a year ago and reached 6.9 billion USD. In February, Turkey's exports were up 5.8 percent compared to the same period last year and reached 12.4 billion USD while imports went up 9 percent and reached a value of 19.3 billion USD. In 2012, Turkey's total foreign trade deficit was recorded as 84 billion USD.
