Turkiye’s exports of furniture, paper and forestry products exceeded $4.5 billion in the January-July period. Iraq was one of the top exporting countries with $577.6 million, followed by Israel with $238.6 million.
According to the statement made by the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, Turkiye’s exports in July increased by 8.4% compared to the same period of the previous year and reached $20 billion.
The furniture, paper and forest products sector, which set its export target as $10 billion this year, realized $609 million of foreign sales in July. January-July period exports of the sector increased to $4.58 billion.
In furniture, which constitutes one of the most important product groups of the sector, July exports amounted to $343 million. 7-month total exports in furniture reached the level of $2.61 billion.
Exports to Iraq exceeded $500 million
Iraq was one of the countries with the highest exports in furniture, paper and forestry products in the 7-month period, with $577.6 million. It was followed by Israel with $238.6 million, the United Kingdom with $229 million, Germany with $196.3 million, and Iran with $171.2 million.
In the said period, furniture exports to Russia increased by 55.3% to $131.5 million.
“The new export target of the sector is the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation”
Erkan Ozkan, President of the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, who gave his views on the subject in the statement, stated that the investments in the sector accelerated as the elections were left behind, and thus the future of the sector is clearer.
Noting that the quieter summer season in other sectors was very productive for them, Ozkan said:
“While increasing our export rates in this process, we aim to set new export strategies and reach the records we aim for in the short and medium term. To this end, we added the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Countries Strategy to the Far Countries Strategy launched by the Ministry of Commerce last year, and expanded our export route. With the delegations we will form in this direction, we will visit the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 members, and develop export strategies suitable for the needs of those countries. Although we are not weak in these markets, considering the potential situation of the countries, our chance of a larger share in exports is extremely high.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz