By Ali Canberk Ozbugutu and Emir Yildirim
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish jewelry exports soared 72.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, totaling $2.5 billion, according to data from the Türkiye Exporters’ Assembly (TIM).
Türkiye’s total exports increased 2.5% in January-March, reaching $65.3 billion and the jewelry sector accounted for 3.9%, the data compiled by Anadolu showed.
Of the total $2.5 billion jewelry exports, $2.1 billion accounted for jewelers’ gold products, $347.3 million unprocessed or semi-processed gold, $90.4 million jewelers’ silver products and $31.7 million accounted for unprocessed or semi-processed silver.
Precious metals or precious-metal-plated metals totaled $22.8 million and cultured pearls, precious and semi-precious stones and products made of them $1.9 million.
At the same time, watches, parts, and watch parts coated with precious metals made up $3.2 million, imitation jewelry $3.9 million dollars, other unprocessed or semi-processed precious metals $2.7 million, and other products made of precious metals $810,700.
The highest export in the jewelry sector was made to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with $1.2 billion, followed by the US with $199.5 million, Switzerland $181.5 million, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region $128 million, and Mexico $92.6 million, Kyrgyzstan $88 million, and Libya with $78.6 million.
Türkiye’s jewelry exports to the UAE rose by $838.4 million, while jewelry exports to Switzerland increased $157.1 million, Kyrgyzstan $46.3 million, the US $37.5 million, and Libya $35.5 million in the first quarter.
Türkiye’s highest jewelry exports came from Istanbul, whose goods accounted for $1.9 billion, while Corum in northern Anatolia made up for $646.1 million, Trabzon on the Black Sea coast $30.5 million, Kastamonu in northern Türkiye $16.4 million, Ankara $5.6 million, and the northwestern city of Sakarya $3 million.