Turkiye’s exports of furniture, paper and forestry products increased by 22.6% in the 9 months of the year compared to the same period of 2021, reaching $6.2 billion. In January-September 2022, $3.55 billion of furniture was exported, while the countries with the highest furniture exports were Iraq with $380.2 million and Germany with $304.4 million.
According to the data compiled from the figures of the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, the exports of the sector broke a record in the January-September period of this year.
In the 9 months of the year, the export sales of the sector increased above the Turkish average and amounted to $6.2 billion. The furniture industry received a share of $3.55 billion from this export.
During the period in question, Iraq was one of the countries to which Turkiye exported the most furniture, with $380.2 million. Iraq was followed by Germany with $304.4 million, Israel with $191.2 million and the United States with $186.7 million. France, which exports furniture worth $161 million, ranked 5th in this field.
The highest increase in furniture exports is in Qatar
This year, the country with the highest increase in furniture exports was Qatar with 90%. Furniture was sold to Qatar for $150.6 million.
Among the products that stood out in furniture exports during the period were bedsteads and cradles for children, furniture for sitting, wooden furniture for dining and living rooms, metal furniture and furniture for sitting that could be turned into beds.
The exports of furniture, paper and forestry products in September increased by 17% compared to the same period of the previous year and reached $761 million. Furniture made up $432 million of this figure.
United Kingdom is the favorite of the paper and cardboard industry
In January-September 2022, exports of the paper and cardboard industry increased by 21% to $2.3 billion. The cardboard and packaging industry, on the other hand, received a share of $891 million from this export figure.
The most important market of the paper and cardboard products sector in the last 9 months was the United Kingdom with $268 million, while Italy’s peak in the export increase was 152%. The UK, Israel, Iraq, Iran and the USA took the top 5 places in exports.
“We have achieved an increase in exports to Saudi Arabia and Russia”
Erkan Ozkan, President of the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, said that their resurgence in the markets where they were strong was effective in the increase in furniture exports.
At this point, Ozkan stated that there has been an increase in their exports to Saudi Arabia and Russia this year, and made the following assessments:
“After the realization of bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, we have achieved an increase of more than 50% and we have already surpassed the total figure of 2021. We opened new areas in the furniture market as Russia began to have problems with European countries. Last year, we made an export of approximately $67 million to Russia. Our goal is to complete 2022 by surpassing last year’s figures.”
“Paper and cardboard industry turned its route to 2023 targets”
Alican Duran, Vice President of Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association, stated that the rising graph in the paper and cardboard sector is supported by export figures.
Pointing out that the world is currently experiencing difficulties in accessing raw materials and energy, Duran said:
“We are taking all the necessary measures in the current situation and shaping our roadmap accordingly. With one quarter left before the end of the year, the export figures are at the levels we want. At the same time, we started our work by drawing a large-scale projection for the year 2023. If we open up to new markets and make the investments we want, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”
Source: Trthaber / Translated by Irem Yildiz