Export similarity index as a barometer of Turkey's agricultural machinery and equipment export competitiveness

This is study aims to evaluate Turkey's agricultural machinery and equipment export performance with the aid of the Export Similarity Index (ESI) from a relative and holistic perspective with the leading countries in the global export market (China, Germany, United States of America [USA], Japan, Italy). For this purpose, export data for 2002-2021 were extracted from the Trade Map database. According to the Harmonized System (HS) as a 6-digit code system, the ESI value was calculated for 39 agricultural machinery and equipment product groups (sub-product groups 69, 82, 84, 87). The results of the study showed that, the ESI values regarding Turkey's agricultural machinery and equipment exports with China, Germany, the USA, and Italy increased in this mentioned period. These increase in ESI values indicated that, the countries export similar products and therefore the competition between them has increased. However, the decreases in Turkey's ESI values compared to Japan mean that, the similarity in the products they export and the competition between the two countries have decreased. Turkey's ESI value of "67.19" with Italy in 2021 shows that ,Turkey is in high competition with Italy in agricultural machinery and equipment exports. In addition, Turkey's ESI value of "26.46" with China in 2002 increased to "46.23" in 2021. This increase in the ESI value shows that, Turkey and China are increasingly exporting similar products and that competition between the two countries is increasing. China's performance is a serious threat to Turkey. To strengthen Turkey's agricultural machinery and equipment export performance, comprehensive export strategies that include both companies in the sector and state-led efforts are needed.