Marble and natural stone exports worth $3.7 billion were realized in Turkiye in the 8-month period of this year.
The marble reserves in Turkiye are among the largest reserves in the world. While there are 650 types of marble in colors and patterns throughout the country, Afyon marble ranks first among them in terms of formation.
Exports worth $130 million were realized from the city, which has marble in nearly 50 colors and patterns. In the marble and natural stone sector, $3.7 billion of exports were made throughout Turkiye in 8 months.
Providing information about the marble industry in Turkiye, Ibrahim Alimoglu, President of the Aegean Mineral Exporters Association, said, “First of all, we have marble in 650 types of colors and patterns in our country. But Afyon marble ranks first in the world with its structure, formation and hardness. It is a great blessing given by God to Afyon and İscehisar. In Afyonkarahisar, we have marble in nearly 50 colors and patterns. I said formation because it has completed its physical development and because its texture is very strong and durable, it was used in Turkish baths, palaces and even as a chandelier in the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul through light passages.
It is a sector that makes the biggest contribution to our country’s exports and employment, with nearly 600 tradesmen, factories and friends from whom we evaluate the smallest stones. Afyon marble is a truly solid, durable marble that has completed its formation down to the smallest detail. We have more than 1000 members in our association. About 300 of these are companies from Afyon. We export all over the world, the most marble in the world is in Turkiye.”
“The current recession is due to block marble”
Alimoglu stated that there is no country in the world where the marble from Afyonkarahisar and Turkiye does not go. “It goes everywhere. From Africa to the Middle East, China, India, America. The Chinese market opened, the Indian market was created, we sent blocks. But after the pandemic, we probably fed the people well, now they are running out of stocks. The current recession is due to block marble. Now we are sending cut and processed marbles. But I think the future has now turned to design. Because when we sell a block of marble, its price is very different. The more marble we contribute to, the more valuable it becomes.”
Talking about export figures, Alimoglu said, “This year, Turkiye exported $3.7 billion in 8 months. The Aegean Mineral Exporters Association’s figure is $750 million.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz