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Türkiye’s trade volume with member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) reached $62.6 billion over the last five years, fueled by gains from the Zangezur and Middle Corridor trade routes, according to data released Friday by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
Between 2020 and 2024, Türkiye’s exports to OTS member states—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan—totaled $36.6 billion, while imports stood at $26 billion.
Azerbaijan was Türkiye’s top trading partner within the bloc, receiving $12.8 billion in Turkish exports, dominated by machinery, plastics, and motor vehicles. Imports from Azerbaijan reached $5.3 billion, led by mineral fuels, cotton, aluminum, iron and steel.
Türkiye has become Azerbaijan’s largest electricity buyer in recent years, highlighting energy cooperation that also includes the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum gas line and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).
The Zangezur Corridor, linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, is expected to further cut logistics costs, expand trade, and serve as an infrastructure link for electricity and digital communications between the two countries.
Turkish contractors have also played a key role in construction projects in Azerbaijan, from airports and housing to electricity and energy transmission lines.
Türkiye’s exports to Kazakhstan over the past five years reached $10.2 billion, while imports totaled $13.2 billion, mostly copper, fuels and aluminum. Machinery, knitwear and accessories led Türkiye’s exports.
Kazakhstan remains Türkiye’s main Central Asian trade partner, with Ankara among its top five investors. The Middle Corridor—a transport and trade route connecting Europe and Asia—has been central to boosting trade. In July, Türkiye and Kazakhstan signed a railway agreement to expand freight capacity and improve service quality along the corridor.
Türkiye’s trade with Kyrgyzstan in 2020–24 amounted to $5.4 billion, while trade with Uzbekistan reached $15.8 billion, TurkStat said.
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The figures come ahead of the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the OTS, to be held Monday and Tuesday in Gabala, northern Azerbaijan.
The summit will focus on regional peace and security, while leaders are expected to sign agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation and prosperity among Turkic nations.
The OTS includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye as founding members, with Uzbekistan joining in 2019. Observer members include Hungary, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
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