Selçuk İskender, Chairman of the Eastern Black Sea Exporters' Association (DKİB), announced that exports from Trabzon, Rize, Gümüşhane and Artvin totaled $1.092 billion in the first seven months of the year.
According to his written statement, Trabzon led with $841.47 million in exports, followed by Rize with $119.758 million, Gümüşhane with $76.929 million, and Artvin with $54.604 million. Compared to the same period last year, exports rose by 18 percent in Trabzon, 4 percent in Rize, 36 percent in Gümüşhane, and 33 percent in Artvin.
Hazelnuts were the region's top export, totaling $563.178 million. They were followed by mining and metals at $150.614 million, aquaculture and animal products at $132.335 million, and fresh fruits and vegetables at $88.921 million.
The Eastern Black Sea region shipped goods to 124 countries in the seven-month period. The top five markets were Italy, Russia, Georgia, Germany, and France. Exports to Italy rose by 3 percent, to Russia by 10 percent, to Georgia by 18 percent, to Germany by 51 percent, and to France by 72 percent.
İskender also noted that exports reached 11 new countries compared to the same period last year, including the Philippines, Argentina, El Salvador, Sudan, French Guiana, Gambia, Maldives, Guyana, Turkmenistan, Gabon, and Hong Kong.