Assessment of the air conditioning sector in Turkey within the context of foreign trade and international competitiveness

The air conditioning sector is a significant part of the global economy. Because of effects of global warming in the World, climate change and the depletion of energy resources, countries have needed more environmentally friendly and more efficient products. In this context, the importance of the air conditioning sector is increasing both in World and our country. The air conditioning sector has a wide variety of products and services. The aim of this study is to investigate the international competitiveness of the Turkish air conditioning sector and its sub-product group (heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, installation, insulation) for the period of 2001-2021.The competitiveness of 24 products for the sub-product group of the air conditioning sector has been analyzed. In this context, Balassa's Revealed Comparative Advantages Index (RCA), Vollrath Indices (RXA, RMP, RTA, RC), Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantages Index (RSCA), Trade Balance Index (TBI) and Product Mapping method were used in the study. The study scrutinizes the competitiveness of the Turkish air conditioning sector and its sub-product group for the first time in the literature using the Product Mapping Method. According to the findings of the study, it has been revealed that Turkey has a competitiveness in the air conditioning sector. Results of the sector in the context of sub-product group, it has been determined that Turkey has competitiveness in 11 products, that its competitiveness in 3 products is at the limit and that it does not have competitiveness in 10 products. Keywords: Air Conditioning Sector, International Competitiveness, Product mapping.