Analysis of the Export Performance of Manufacturing Industry Sectors in Turkey Using the Entropy-Weighted TOPSIS Method

Özet

Purpose – The aim of this study is to evaluate and rank the export performance of manufacturing industry sectors in Türkiye using the Entropy-weighted TOPSIS method. Within this framework, sectoral performance is measured based on export-related indicators and profitability ratios derived from the income statements published by the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye. The analysis covers 21 manufacturing industry sectors over the period 2009–2023 and provides a comparative assessment of sectoral performance using objective financial and trade-based criteria.
Design/methodology/approach – This study evaluates the export performance of manufacturing industry sectors. The data are based on the income statement derived from the sectoral data of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. The data were compiled from sectoral reports published by the CBRT. These reports provide information for all sectors up to the second sub-level. In addition, the sector classification, sub-sectors and the related calculation methodology are explicitly presented. Within the scope of this study, 21 sectors classified under the main heading of C–Manufacturing Industry are analyzed. The data begin in “2009” in line with the publication framework of the CBRT. The most recent finalized data correspond to the year “2023.” Therefore, to avoid the use of provisional data, the analysis is conducted using data covering the period up to 2023. The analysis utilizes indicators such as export data related to foreign trade, gross profit margin, net profit margin, operating profit margin, and the sector’s share in total foreign trade volume. The TOPSIS method has been employed in the analysis of sector performance.
Findings – Based on the data from the 2009–2023 period, the analysis reveals that sectors such as food, basic metal industry, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electrical equipment manufacturing demonstrated high performance, whereas sectors such as manufacture of furniture products, printing and reproduction of recorded media, manufacture of leather and related products manufacturing exhibited relatively low performance.
Discussion – The analysis reveals notable differences in export performance across manufacturing industry sectors in Türkiye based on export ratios and profitability indicators. While the study does not directly test policy instruments, the observed performance disparities suggest that sectoral characteristics play an important role in shaping export outcomes. In this respect, the results may serve as a descriptive reference for future research that aims to examine the effectiveness of regulatory measures, incentives, and support mechanisms on sectoral export performance using extended variable sets.