01Key Takeaways
- Türkiye imported $361.97 billion worth of goods in 2023, down 0.5% from $363.71 billion in 2022, essentially unchanged and the most recent year with verified trade data available in this dataset.
- Mineral fuels led every import category at 19.1% ($69.11 billion), more than double the next-largest category on this list.
- Russia was Türkiye's largest import partner, supplying 12.6% of imports, worth $45.60 billion.
- The top three import partners together accounted for 33.0% of total import value.
025-Year Trend
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $210.3B | $219.5B | $271.4B | $363.7B | $362.0B |
03Top Import Markets (2023)
| Rank | Partner | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | $45.6B | 12.6% |
| 2 | China | $45.0B | 12.4% |
| 3 | Germany | $28.7B | 7.9% |
| 4 | Special Categories | $24.6B | 6.8% |
| 5 | Switzerland | $19.9B | 5.5% |
| 6 | United States | $15.8B | 4.4% |
| 7 | Italy | $15.0B | 4.1% |
| 8 | France | $11.5B | 3.2% |
| 9 | United Arab Emirates | $11.5B | 3.2% |
| 10 | Spain | $9.5B | 2.6% |
04Top Import Categories (2023)
| Rank | Category | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of their Distillation; Bituminous Substances; Mineral Waxes | $69.1B | 19.1% |
| 2 | Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Parts thereof | $41.0B | 11.3% |
| 3 | Natural or Cultured Pearls, Precious or Semi-Precious Stones, Precious Metals, Metals Clad with Precious Metal, and Articles thereof; Imitation Jewellery; Coin | $33.9B | 9.4% |
| 4 | Vehicles other than Railway or Tramway Rolling-Stock, and parts and accessories thereof | $32.3B | 8.9% |
| 5 | Electrical Machinery and Equipment and parts thereof; Sound Recorders and Reproducers, Television Image and Sound Recorders and Reproducers, and Parts and Accessories of such Articles | $27.9B | 7.7% |
| 6 | Iron and Steel | $24.2B | 6.7% |
| 7 | Plastics and Articles thereof | $16.2B | 4.5% |
| 8 | Organic Chemicals | $9.2B | 2.5% |
| 9 | Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories thereof | $6.5B | 1.8% |
| 10 | Aluminium and Articles thereof | $6.3B | 1.7% |
05Trade Partner Map
06Analysis
Import Value Nearly Steady in 2023 After a Three-Year Climb
Türkiye imported $361.97 billion worth of goods in 2023, down 0.5% from $363.71 billion in 2022. This is the most recent year with verified trade data available in this dataset. The dataset covers a full five years, from 2019 through 2023, tracking the import side of trade for the same economy covered on the export side of this dataset.
Import value stood at $210.35 billion in 2019. It rose to $219.51 billion in 2020, then climbed further to $271.43 billion in 2021. Import value reached $363.71 billion in 2022, the high point of this five-year window, before easing slightly to $361.97 billion in 2023.
This dataset does not explain the steady climb through 2022 or the small pullback that followed. Import value in 2023 nonetheless remained well above every year in this window before 2022. A decline of just 0.5% describes a near-plateau rather than a genuine reversal. It holds on to nearly all of the gains built up over the previous three years. That shape contrasts with the export side of trade for this same country, where value kept rising slightly in 2023 rather than easing back. The overall shape across this five-year window points to a period of sustained import growth followed by a brief pause, rather than a sharp correction.
Fuel Imports Dominate a List Also Tied to Machinery and Precious Metals
Mineral fuels led every import category in 2023, worth $69.11 billion, or 19.1% of the total. That is by a wide margin the largest single category on this list. Türkiye's reliance on Russian refined petroleum products such as diesel, gasoil and jet fuel has grown sharply in recent years. That dependence is consistent with mineral fuels topping this import list and Russia ranking as the leading import partner. Machinery and mechanical appliances followed at 11.3%, worth $40.97 billion.
Natural and cultured pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, and precious metals contributed 9.4%, worth $33.91 billion, and vehicles added 8.9%, worth $32.26 billion. Electrical machinery and equipment contributed a further 7.7%, worth $27.95 billion. Together, the top five categories on this list account for well over half of total import value.
Iron and steel added 6.7% ($24.16 billion), and plastics contributed 4.5% ($16.22 billion). Organic chemicals added 2.5%, worth $9.18 billion, and optical, measuring and medical instruments contributed 1.8%, worth $6.45 billion. Aluminium closed out the top ten at 1.7%, worth $6.29 billion, the smallest share among all ten categories on this list. It is still a sizeable figure on its own, though the smallest here. Fuel and machinery together account for close to a third of total import value. A long tail of industrial inputs and finished goods fills out the rest of this list. These ten categories span raw materials, industrial machinery and finished consumer goods. That mix reflects an economy that imports both the inputs for domestic manufacturing and products ready for sale.
Russia and China Lead a Moderately Concentrated Partner List
Russia was Türkiye's largest import partner in 2023, taking 12.6% of imports, worth $45.60 billion. China ranked a close second at 12.4%, worth $45.05 billion. Germany followed at 7.9%, worth $28.69 billion. Together, these top three partners accounted for 33.0% of total import value. That is a markedly higher concentration than seen on the export side of trade for this country.
A grouping recorded in trade statistics as "Special Categories" ranked fourth at 6.8%, worth $24.55 billion. This is a classification covering goods not assigned to a single specific country of origin. Switzerland followed at 5.5%, worth $19.91 billion.
United States contributed 4.4% ($15.78 billion), and Italy added 4.1% ($14.99 billion). France contributed 3.2% ($11.55 billion), essentially tied with United Arab Emirates at 3.2% ($11.53 billion). Spain closed out the top ten at 2.6%, worth $9.51 billion, the smallest share among the ten partners listed here. This list spans Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Ranks four through ten are packed within roughly four percentage points of each other, a tighter cluster than the wider gaps separating the top three.
Taken together, this dataset's most recent confirmed year describes an import profile anchored in fuel, machinery and precious materials. That profile has held nearly steady after three years of steep growth. That profile is sourced from a partner base led by Russia and China. That grouping is more concentrated than the widely spread partner base seen on the export side of trade for this country.