globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and Turkey

In 2024, China exported $44.7 billion to Turkey and imported $3.8 billion. China ran a surplus of $40.8 billion with Turkey, compared with a surplus of $16.1 billion in 2019. Turkey was China’s 31st largest trading partner (0.8% of its trade), and China was Turkey’s 2nd (8%).

Summary

China → Turkey
$44.7billion
Turkey → China
$3.8billion
China’s balance
$40.8billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with Turkey

Trade between China and Turkey grew 68.3-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 44.7
  • Imports 3.8
  • Balance +40.8

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$579 million$131 million$448 million
1996$598 million$99 million$499 million
1997$831 million$68 million$763 million
1998$888 million$50 million$838 million
1999$916 million$55 million$861 million
2000$1.4 billion$126 million$1.3 billion
2001$949 million$257 million$692 million
2002$1.4 billion$329 million$1.1 billion
2003$2.7 billion$578 million$2.1 billion
2004$4.5 billion$545 million$3.9 billion
2005$6.9 billion$631 million$6.2 billion
2006$9.7 billion$799 million$8.9 billion
2007$13.3 billion$1.2 billion$12.1 billion
2008$15.1 billion$2 billion$13.2 billion
2009$12.3 billion$1.9 billion$10.4 billion
2010$16.6 billion$2.8 billion$13.8 billion
2011$21.3 billion$2.7 billion$18.5 billion
2012$21 billion$3.2 billion$17.8 billion
2013$25.3 billion$4 billion$21.3 billion
2014$24.8 billion$3.3 billion$21.6 billion
2015$24.2 billion$2.7 billion$21.5 billion
2016$23.9 billion$2.5 billion$21.4 billion
2017$23.9 billion$3.3 billion$20.6 billion
2018$21.4 billion$3.4 billion$18 billion
2019$19.2 billion$3 billion$16.1 billion
2020$23.1 billion$3.3 billion$19.9 billion
2021$32.2 billion$4.3 billion$27.9 billion
2022$41 billion$3.9 billion$37.1 billion
2023$44.7 billion$3.8 billion$40.9 billion
2024$44.7 billion$3.8 billion$40.8 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to Turkey

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$3.6 billion · 8.1%
    35 thousand tonnes
  2. Computers$1.7 billion · 3.9%
    10 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  3. Cars$1.5 billion · 3.3%
    139 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Hot-rolled flat steel$1.2 billion · 2.6%
    1.9 million tonnes
  5. Auto parts$849 million · 1.9%
    170 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  6. Transformers and power supplies$744 million · 1.7%
    50 thousand tonnes
  7. Batteries$741 million · 1.7%
    53 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Air pumps, compressors and fans$731 million · 1.6%
    152 thousand tonnes
  9. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$682 million · 1.5%
    39 thousand tonnes
  10. Computer and office machine parts$635 million · 1.4%
    21 thousand tonnes

What Turkey sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Marble and travertine$402 million · 10.5%
    1.7 million tonnes
  2. Borates$359 million · 9.4%
    627 thousand tonnes
  3. Chromium ore$327 million · 8.5%
    1.1 million tonnes · China’s sources
  4. Copper ore$266 million · 6.9%
    198 thousand tonnes · China’s sources
  5. Precious metal ore$243 million · 6.3%
    85 thousand tonnes
  6. Bauxite (aluminum ore)$151 million · 3.9%
    3 million tonnes · China’s sources
  7. Iron ore$135 million · 3.5%
    1.3 million tonnes · China’s sources
  8. Lead ore$128 million · 3.3%
    80 thousand tonnes
  9. Natural borates$116 million · 3%
    304 thousand tonnes
  10. Nickel matte$107 million · 2.8%
    44 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Istanbul.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Istanbul is 14,867 nautical miles (27,533 km) long: ≈ 34.5–44 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Dardanelles (14,867 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal and the Dardanelles (8,135 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$40.1 billion · 82.8%
  2. Air$8.4 billion · 17.2%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

Turkey was China’s 31st largest trading partner (0.8% of its trade), and China was Turkey’s 2nd (8%).

Turkey in China’s trade
0.8%
Turkey’s rank among China’s partners
31st
China in Turkey’s trade
8.2%
China’s rank among Turkey’s partners
2nd

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of Turkey

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.