Yalova ranks first in ship and yacht exports

Turkey’s ship and yacht sector exports in 2023 increased by approximately 33.6 percent compared to 2022, reaching 1 billion 940 million 979 thousand dollars from 1 billion 453 million 63 thousand dollars.

Yalova increased its exports in the ship, yacht and services sector from 415 million 61 thousand dollars to 733 million 323 thousand dollars in 2023, an increase of 76.7 percent compared to the previous year. The province’s share in the sector’s total exports was 37.78 percent.

The foreign sales of Istanbul, which is the second most exporting province in the sector, at 731 million 45 thousand dollars in 2022, decreased by 2.7 percent to 711 million 271 thousand dollars in 2023.

Last year, Izmir’s exports in the sector, which recorded a 101 percent increase compared to 2022, increased from 129 million 143 thousand dollars to 260 million 215 thousand dollars.

Bursa ranked 4th with a 68 percent increase and 97 million 621 thousand dollars in 2023, and Kocaeli ranked 5th with a 51.9 percent increase and 59 million 168 thousand dollars.

83 percent increase in exports to Norway, which ranks first

Last year, ships and yachts were exported to more than 130 markets.

In 2023, the most exports were made to Norway. Last year, exports to this country increased from 288 million 246 thousand dollars to 527 million 339 thousand dollars, an increase of 83 percent compared to 2022.

Ship and yacht exports to Malta, which follows this country with an increase of 210 percent, reached 215 million 54 thousand dollars from 69 million 207 thousand dollars.

Greece became the third country with the highest exports in the sector last year, with an increase of 347 percent and 156 million 447 thousand dollars.

There was a record increase in ship and yacht exports to Canada in 2023. Exports of ships and yachts to Canada amounted to 6 million 354 thousand dollars in the previous year, with an increase of 2 thousand 124 percent and 141 million 337 thousand dollars of exports in 2023.

Canada was followed by the Faroe Islands with a 122 percent increase and 122 million 559 thousand dollars, Italy with a 124 percent increase and 121 million 328 thousand dollars, and the Marshall Islands with a 39 percent increase and 106 million 598 thousand dollars.

41 thousand 200 people work in the shipyards in Yalova

Şükrü Fazıl Uzun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yalova Altınova Shipyard Entrepreneurs Industry and Trade Inc., said that although Yalova is the smallest province in Turkey by surface area, it has a very important place in terms of industry.

Emphasizing that the shipbuilding industry has made a great contribution to Yalova, Uzun stated that the city’s exports of ships and yachts are well above the 733 million dollars in records, and that the figure is around 1 billion dollars, including the sales of companies headquartered in Istanbul and producing in the city.

Stating that around 900 million dollars worth of ship maintenance and repair works have been carried out in the shipyards in the Altınova region, Uzun said, “Therefore, the contribution of Yalova in terms of ship construction, repair and maintenance is around 1 billion 900 million dollars. Repair and maintenance of 1100-1200 ships are carried out annually and 45-45 million dollars are carried out annually. “50 new ships have been built, and the world’s most modern and technological ships are being built in Yalova and exported abroad. This is a source of pride for all of us and a source of pride for our country.” said.

Stating that 41 thousand 200 people are employed in the shipyards, Uzun stated that they expect this number to reach 60 thousand in a short time.