Comparative Advantages in the Export of Environmental Goods: Leading Countries and Türkiye

Çimen Z., Çuhadar Y., Sarıçoban K., Kutlu D., Ongun U.

SUSTAINABILITY, cilt.18, sa.5, ss.1-18, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 18 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/su18052270
  • Dergi Adı: SUSTAINABILITY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Geobase, INSPEC
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-18
  • Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study evaluates Türkiye’s comparative advantages in environmental product groups

relative to the world’s leading exporters. The analysis focuses on the twelve highest-ranking

exporters of environmental goods between 2012 and 2023: China, Germany, United States of

America (USA), Japan, Korea, Italy, United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, France, Switzerland,

Mexico, and the Netherlands. Utilizing export data from the World Bank, comparative

advantages were assessed using the Relative Trade Advantage (RTA) index. The results

indicate that Germany leads in specialization, maintaining a competitive edge in 48 out

of 53 product groups, followed by Japan (46), the USA (44), and the UK (44). In contrast,

Türkiye and Mexico exhibit the lowest levels of specialization, with competitive advantages

in only 10 and 8 groups, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis reveals intense global

competition in four specific product categories (HS 842121, 847420, 850239, and 851430),

where at least ten of the sampled countries are specialized. These findings highlight

Türkiye’s limited specialization and underscore the urgent strategic need to enhance

competitiveness in the global environmental goods market.