New targets for Turkish natural stone exports: Strengthening in the global market with processed products

The Turkish natural stone sector realized exports worth 1,075,011,919 dollars in the January-July 2023 period. The latest export reports show that revenue from processed products surpassed block exports.

Processed marble exports: 507,349,059 dollars

Exports of processed travertine: 160,760,216 dollars

Block exports 348,639,703 dollars

The sector’s exports continue to increase. Especially the leap in exports of value-added products gives hope to the sector. The introduction of many new products to the market with the development of stone processing technologies contributes to the positive increase in the market share and exports of the Turkish natural stone sector. When we examine the export tables, we see that the Turkish natural stone sector exported 1,075,011,919 dollars in the January-July 2023 period. The most striking development in the tables is in the processed product group. The increase in processed marble, which has been seen for a long time, has surpassed the income obtained from block exports in the last 7 months. While the sector earned 507 million 349 thousand 059 dollars from processed marble in the January-July period of 2023, it earned 348 million 639 thousand 703 dollars from block marble and travertine exports.

Export potential increases in processed products

The change in classical marble production methods and the introduction of modern production methods based on advanced technology have had a positive impact on processed marble production and exports. Many products that could not be processed in the past now find a place in the market. As products diversify, markets also start to diversify. The latest export table also confirms this. When we take a look at the processed marble export reports for the January-July 2023 period, we see that there has been an increase. The revenue generated by the Turkish natural stone sector from processed marble exports in the 7-month period was recorded as 507 million 349 thousand 059 dollars. The top 10 countries with the highest exports are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Australia, Morocco, France and the Russian Federation, especially the USA. When it comes to processed travertine exports, the sector earned 348 million 639 thousand 703 dollars in the 7-month period of 2023. The top 10 countries importing the most processed travertine from Turkey are the USA, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Romania, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Qatar.”

Developments in the block market:

When we turn to the block market, we are faced with a positive picture here as well. In the first 7 months of 2023, the sector earned 226,827,513 dollars in exports to China. Total earnings from block exports amounted to 348,639,703 dollars. Although India does not make as big purchases as China, it is Turkey’s biggest block market after China. When we examine the last table, there is a mobility that gives hope to the sector; in the first 7 months of 2023, exports to India generated 78,775,322 dollars in revenue.

Situation in country groups:

When we examine the country group export tables, it can be seen from the statistics that there was a decrease in Other Asia, North America and North African countries, European Union member Europe, West Africa, Central/East/South Africa, while there was an increase in Near-Middle East Asia, Central-South America and Other European countries.

As for the figures:

1,586,707,139 dollars were exported to other Asian countries. The decrease in value is -2.81%.

391,369,007 dollars were exported to North American countries. The decrease in value was -26.51%.

Exports to Near and Middle East Asian countries amounted to 663,207,783 dollars. The increase in value was 7.88%.

432,823,896 dollars exports were realized to European Union member countries. The decrease in value was -26.96%.

Exports to other European countries amounted to 81,513,897 dollars. The increase in value was 9.85%.

Exports to North African countries amounted to 259,910,857 dollars. The decrease in value was -3.77%.

29,035,651 dollars were exported to Central and South American countries. The increase in value was 2.69%.

Exports to West African countries amounted to 7,186,621 dollars. The decrease in value was -7.88%.

Exports to Central, Eastern and Southern African countries amounted to 3,775,826 dollars. The decrease in value was -25.92%.