Trade Relations between Turkey and the Member States of the Organisation of Turkic States

The Turkic States community refers to the independent Turkic republics that are members of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS). Five countries are full members of the TCO: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan, Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are observer countries.

Turkey's mutual trade with TCO member countries Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan amounted to $62.6 billion over the last five years.

At the 12th Summit of the Turkic States Organisation, held on 7 October 2025 in Gebele, Azerbaijan, hosted by His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the theme of ‘Regional Peace and Security’, TDT Secretary General Ambassador Kubanichbek Omuraliev stated in his address to the meeting that

‘The Organisation currently coordinates multilateral cooperation in more than 40 areas, including economy, security, education, innovation and space, and this increasing dynamism reflects the rapprochement between member states and the growing international recognition of the TCO.’

Perhaps the most important of the more than 40 existing areas of cooperation between TDT member states are trade relations. Trade relations increase and strengthen other types of relations.

Mutual trade has accelerated in recent years

While Turkey has a strategic trade partnership with the organisation's member countries, mutual trade with these countries has gained momentum in recent years.

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) General Trade System, total exports to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan amounted to $36.6 billion in the 2020-2024 period.

During the same period, total imports from these countries were recorded at approximately $26 billion. Thus, Turkey's trade volume with these TDT member countries reached 62.6 billion dollars over the last five years.

Most exports were made to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan was the country to which Turkey exported the most during this period, with 12.8 billion dollars. Machinery, mechanical appliances, plastics and plastic products, and motor vehicles were the leading exports to this country. During the same period, imports from Azerbaijan amounted to $5.3 billion, with mineral fuels, cotton, aluminium, iron and steel ranking first in imports.

Trade relations between the two countries are progressing strategically under the understanding of ‘one nation, two states’. Azerbaijan's rich oil and natural gas resources are being transported to Europe via Turkey through initiatives such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC), the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline (BTE) and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP), making the country a regional energy corridor.

Our exports are increasing year by year

The Zangezur Corridor will support trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan

The fact that Turkey is the country to which Azerbaijan has exported the most electricity in recent years is also important in terms of diversifying energy cooperation and security of supply.

The Zengezur Corridor, which is important for regional trade, is also expected to contribute to the relations between the two countries by reducing logistics costs and increasing transit capacity and trade volume. The corridor is also being considered as a potential infrastructure corridor for electricity interconnection (the connection of a national electricity system, consisting of transmission and distribution systems, to another country's electricity system) or digital communication lines between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Turkish contractors continue to undertake significant projects in this country in areas such as housing, airport construction, water, electricity and energy transmission lines.

Exports to Kazakhstan reached $10.1 billion.

The rise in Turkey's mutual trade with Kazakhstan is also noteworthy during this period. Turkey, which exported $10.1 billion worth of goods to Kazakhstan in the last five years, imported $13.2 billion worth of goods from this country during the same period.

Machinery, knitwear and accessories led exports to this country, while copper and copper goods, mineral fuels, aluminium and aluminium goods led imports.

The Middle Corridor will increase the logistical power of Turkey and Kazakhstan...

Kazakhstan stands out as Turkey's main trading partner in Central Asia. Turkey is among the top five countries investing here.

The Middle Corridor, an important transport and trade route in Eurasia, is considered strategic for trade between Turkey and Kazakhstan. In particular, with the railway agreement signed with Kazakhstan in July regarding the Middle Corridor, the aim is to increase the volume and service quality of rail freight transport on this route. This cooperation is expected to further strengthen the role of Turkey and Kazakhstan in global logistics.

Turkey's trade with Kyrgyzstan, another member of the organisation, amounted to $5.4 billion during the period in question, while trade with Uzbekistan reached $15.8 billion.

We share the same language, the same history, and the same goals...

The point reached by the Organisation of Turkic States today is the result of historical accumulation, common Turkic wisdom, and will.

We are pleased to see that cooperation in 40 areas, ranging from education to science, culture to defence, demonstrates that the Turkic world is no longer merely leaning on the past but is now a structure that builds the future together.

Imperialist powers, which view commercial cooperation between Turkic States as contrary to their own interests, will always sow seeds of discord and strife. I believe that the necessary measures will be taken in light of this awareness.

The strengthening and diversification of existing cooperation among the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States pleases and gives hope to those of us who love Turan.

How happy is the one who says, ‘I am a Turk’...