ANKARA, July 30 (AFP) - Turkey's trade deficit widened by 73.6 percent to 19.4 billion dollars in the first seven months of the year from 11.1 billion dollars in the same period last year, the state statistics institute said Friday.
Imports climbed by 45.1 percent to 53.8 billion dollars while exports increased by 32.7 percent to 34.4 billion dollars, the institute said.
In July alone, imports went up 36.8 percent to 8.5 billion dollars and exports increased by 27.6 percent to 5.4 billion dollars.
Last year, the embattled Turkish lira steadily regained ground against the dollar as the the economy began to emerge from a severe recession brought on by financial turmoil in 2001.
But business leaders have complained that the currency's revival is undermining exports, seen as vital for the economy's recovery.