BURSA - Exports from automotive sector increased 58 percent to 3 billion 344 million thousand U.S. dollars in January-June period of 2003.
In the same period last year, exports from automotive sector had been 2 billion 116 million 101 thousand U.S. dollars.
Uludag Exporters' Associations (UIB) told the A.A on Sunday that exports of by-industry products increased 31.2 percent to 1 billion 156 million 299 thousand U.S. dollars while exports of automobiles increased to 948 million 679 thousand U.S. dollars.
The sector exported its products to 11 free zones and 163 countries and autonomous regions in the first half of 2003.
Germany is ranked first with 559 million 801 thousand U.S. dollars among the countries to which automotive exports were made. Italy, France, Spain and Britain followed Germany.
The sector exported its products to Antigua and Barbuda, Gibraltar, North Korea, Palestine, Burundi, Paraguay, Gambia, Tajikistan, Central African Republic, Guyana, Swaziland, Mozambique and Botswana for the first time.
Meanwhile, exports from automotive sector increased 67.6 percent from 394 million 48 thousand U.S. dollars to 660 million 483 thousand U.S. dollars in June of 2003.
The exports of automotive and by industry products in the January-June period of 2003 are as follows:

. thousand difference
(U.S. dollar) (%)
------------------------------------- ---------- --------
Automotive by-industry 1,156,299 31.2
Passenger cars 948,679 62.6
Motor vehicles on special propose 551,016 118.9
Vessels-boats-ships 251,749 101.1
Bus-minibus-midibus 227,852 41.3
Tractors 68,622 264.2
Railway vehicles 13,009 87.3
Towings 16,530 27.7
Aircraft-spacecraft 9,252 -72.1
Bicycle-motorcycle 15,255 37.6
Tank-armoured vehicles 74,981 7,465.9
Towings on special purpose 138 -7.9

The first ten countries and free zones to which Turkey exported motor vehicles in the January-June period of 2003 are as follows:

. thousand difference
Countries (U.S. dollar) (%)
------------------------------------ ---------- ----------
Germany 559,801 43.5
Italy 388,927 31.8
France 317,316 6.5
Spain 181,927 170.8
Britain 167,001 96.1
Istanbul Leather Free Zone 103,675 30.7
Russia 87,935 126.2
Israel 78,842 181.8
Malaysia 73,079 8,480.7
Greece 69,299 323.2

(UK-MS) 06.07.2003