ISTANBUL: Turkey"s exports reached a record $15.1 billion in March, economy minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Sunday during a televised interview on private broadcaster CNNTurk. "We reached the highest number in our history in exports, $15.1 billion," Zeybekci said. The Turkish Exporters" Assembly (TIM) also said in a statement on Sunday that the country"s exports rose 11.5 percent year-on-year in March to exceed $15 billion for the first time. It said exports in the last 12 months had risen 10.5 percent to around $160 billion. Data from Turkey"s official statistics institute on Friday showed exports stood at $13.18 billion in February. They also showed Turkey"s trade deficit had widened 54.2 percent year-on-year to $5.76 billion. TIM President Mehmet Buyukeksi said the assembly was aiming for exports to exceed $170 billion at the end of the year. Zeybekci also said he expected tourism revenues to reach $51-52 billion in 2018 from around $26 billion in 2017. Tourism, a major source of funding to plug Turkey"s persistent current account deficit, is recovering from a sharp downturn caused by bomb attacks, diplomatic disputes and a failed coup. Foreign arrivals surged over 27 percent in 2017 to 32.4 million, largely boosted by Russian tourists after Turkey patched up a rift with Moscow, concerns over security eased and the sector offered discounts to attract customers.