And what’s new about that? That is precisely why Turkey should strategically turn its attention a little more towards the East and Far East, Nord and South – for example, towards BRICS+, the Turkic States, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and so on – and further diversify its economy and trade; at present, the ratio stands at 38% Europe and 62% the rest of the World.
The combined total trade volume highlights the long-term trend most clearly: around the year 2000, the ratio between EU trade and the rest of the world was exactly half-and-half (
50:50). Since then, this ratio has steadily shifted toward roughly
38% EU to 62% rest of the world.
| Year | Global Total Volume ($ Bln) | EU Share (%) | Rest of the World (%) | Global Total (%) |
|---|
| 2000 | 82.3 | 50.0 % | 50.0 % | 100 % |
| 2005 | 190.3 | 49.5 % | 50.5 % | 100 % |
| 2010 | 299.4 | 41.7 % | 58.3 % | 100 % |
| 2015 | 351.0 | 40.7 % | 59.3 % | 100 % |
| 2020 | 388.9 | 36.8 % | 63.2 % | 100 % |
| 2025 | 638.9 | 38.5 % | 61.5 % | 100 % |
The aim should be to increase the volume of trade with Europe even further, whilst at the same time reducing the percentage ratio to 33-34% for Europe and increasing it to 66-67% for the rest of the world.
From then on, Europe will come to us and knock on our door; from then on, they will be downgraded strategically as Customers.