Turkish shipyards aim for $2.5-$3 billion in exports, driven by rising European orders and demand for eco-friendly vessels.
Orders from Europe and the increasing demand for eco-friendly ships have brought Turkish shipyards to a historic threshold. The sector, which reached an export volume of 1.5 billion dollars in the first six months, aims to achieve the highest level ever by the end of the year.
Mustafa Talha Pepe, Chairman of the Ship, Yacht, and Services Exporters' Association (GYHİB), stated that the ship, yacht, and services sector achieved 1.5 billion dollars in exports in the first six months of the year, noting that the increase in exports was particularly influenced by the delivery of fishing vessels, special-purpose ships, and tugboats to Northern European countries.
Export target of 3 billion dollars
Pepe said, 'We aim to break a new record by reaching exports between 2.5 and 3 billion dollars by the end of this year.'
Mustafa Talha Pepe expressed that a significant portion of the performance in the first six months stemmed from the deliveries of contracts signed 2-3 years ago, highlighting that the Turkish shipbuilding industry has shown significant development in recent years.
Pepe, the Chairman of GYHİB, pointed out that there has been a slight decline in the order books of shipyards compared to previous years, emphasizing the importance of maintaining incentive and support mechanisms for the sector to further enhance its potential.
Pepe drew attention to the fact that the shipbuilding and yacht construction industry is an export item with extremely high added value, stating, 'We have an average export figure of about 25 dollars per kilogram. Therefore, I believe our sector is one of the sectors with the highest added value. I think it adds value to Turkey's overall export.'
Evaluating the impact of the increase in exports on employment, the sub-industry, and domestic production, Pepe remarked, 'I view this very positively. We have grown the sub-industry in recent years, and it has shown its contribution. We have increased employment, which has also demonstrated its contribution to the sector. For this reason, we expect and want the incentives and facilities that will guide our sector to continue as before.'
Domestic production strengthens exports
Pepe stated that domestic production and a strong sub-industry play a critical role in export success, noting that reducing external dependency in the supply chain provides a competitive advantage to Turkish shipyards. He mentioned that more than half of the ships produced in Turkish shipyards possess electric or LNG-supported eco-friendly technologies, emphasizing that demand for green ships, particularly from Northern Europe, has increased.
Pepe underscored their goal of maintaining the market share gained in Europe, stating that incentives and support provided to the sector must continue to sustain competitiveness in fishing vessels, ferries, tugboats, and special-purpose ships.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
