Istanbul, March 1 () - Exports that have risen in Feb. for the first time in 14 months increased by 3.1 percent to 10 billion 790 million dollars against the same period of last year, according to data released by Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM).

In the first two months of 2016, exports dropped by 16.9 percent to 20 billion 387 million dollars, and fell by 10.8 percent to 139 billion 735 million dollars at the end of Feb., on annual basis.

The highest exports were for the automotive sector in Feb. with 1 billion 986 million dollars. Garment industry followed it with 1 billion 425 million dollars, and chemical goods and products with 1 billion 145 million dollars. In Feb., the highest increase in exports was seen in Defense and Aerospace Industry sector with 41.4 percent, while this was followed by ornamental plants industry with an increase by 24.3 percent.

Having referred to global economic developments, TIM Head Mehmet Büyükekşi reiterated the sharp fall in commodity, energy and crude oil.

"Our country has showed a growth performance of 3.4 percent in the third quarter of last year, despite the negative developments across the world" said Büyükekşi, reminding the World Trade Organization's current data pointing to a decline by 11 percent in world trade.