Türkiye’s imports routinely run at double the dollar value of the county’s exports. In 2003, exports totalled $60 billion.

As the Turkish Lira has gained value over the last three months, so the import growth rate is predicted to exceed exports. The Lira has strengthened almost 15% against the US dollar and 4% against the Euro. Imports from Euro countries have picked up on an annual basis, while US imports have dropped around 2.5%. Analysts have revised their estimates downwards to TL1.62 million to the dollar, from TL1.85 million. But, as imports grow, the current account deficit will widen to $7.5 billion, some 3.3% of gross national product (GNP).

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