Exports of furniture, paper and forestry products increased by 28% in 9 months compared to the same period of 2020, reaching $4.97 billion, while the increase in furniture exports was 20%. Ahmet Gulec, President of Istanbul Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, said, “Despite rising raw material costs, ongoing global trade problems and insufficient human resources, the furniture industry continues to grow and increases exports.”
Turkey’s furniture exports continued to break records, exceeding $3 billion for the first time in the January-September period of this year.
According to the compilation made by AA correspondent from the data of Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, furniture, paper and forest products exports from Turkey in 9 months of the year increased by 28% compared to the same period of 2020 and reached $4.97 billion.
The increase in furniture exports was 20%. Furniture exports in the January-September period exceeded $3 billion for the first time and reached $3.07 billion.
In the said period, the countries that exported the most furniture were the USA, Israel, France and England. Among the export products, “cots and cradles for children”, “furniture for sitting for children”, “wooden furniture for dining and living rooms”, “metal furniture”, “furniture for sitting that can be turned into beds” came to the fore.
Looking at the month of September, exports of furniture, paper and forestry products were $657 million, while the share of furniture from this figure was $385.6 million.
“INCREASE CONTINUES DESPITE INCREASING COSTS AND CONTINUING GLOBAL TRADE PROBLEMS”
Ahmet Gulec, Chairman of the Istanbul Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the furniture industry continued to grow and increased its exports despite increasing raw material costs, ongoing global trade problems and insufficient human resources.
Stating that the capacity utilization rate of the furniture industry is at the level of 76% and this rate has decreased to 40% in small enterprises, Gulec noted that if both production capacity and capacity utilization are increased, they can get a higher share from the world market.
Stating that clustering model should be applied in the sector in order to achieve this, Gulec emphasized that organized industrial zones should be established specifically for furniture.
Stating that developed countries support the furniture industry, Gulec said, “Furniture is one of the most important sectors that contribute to the development of a country. Today, many developed countries invest in the furniture industry. If you want to develop a country, you should support the furniture industry.”
GLOBAL FURNITURE PLAYERS DIRECTED THEIR ROUTES TO TURKEY
Ahmet Gulec stated that global players turned to local production due to supply problems and increasing freight prices during the epidemic, and said:
“Many manufacturers have also decided to manufacture in Turkey. The last of the manufacturers who took this decision was the Swedish-based furniture giant. The company aims to have the categories of armchairs, sofas, bookcases, wardrobes and kitchen cabinets produced in Turkey in addition to its existing production in Turkey and export them through Turkey. We find the decision taken by the furniture giant very positive. It will be the driving force in the growth of the Turkish furniture industry. The star of the industry will shine as global players bring their production to Turkey. As the Turkish furniture industry, we will reach our goals for 2023 exports and to be among the top 5 furniture manufacturers in the world.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz