Realising 1.888.639.000 dollar worth export in January-November period in 2017, Turkey increased its turnover by 14 % compared to the same period of last year
For Turkey, being among world leaders in supplying and exporting natural stone, last three years have been painful. The decrease in foreign sales since 2013 continued in 2016 and it was upsetting. To give an end to the fall, objectives were was set high and at the beginning of 2017, exceeding the treshold of 2bn dollars was targeted. January-November figures for 2017 were the good news that the treshold would be exceeded. Exporting 7.302.249 tons of natural stone in the first 11 months of 2017, Turkey turned 1.888.639.000 dollars. Turkish natural stone sector increased its revenues by 14 % compared to the same period of 2016.
We have already exceeded 2016
We must underline two points related to figures of the first 11 months of 2017. Realising 1.888.639.000 dollars, Turkey, has already exceeded the total foreign sales of 1.850.000.000 dollars in 2016. In addition, when inspected, 2017 January-November foreign sales is the three year high for the same periods. Turkey had realized such export revenues in the first 11 months of 2013 and 2014.
31 % growth in China
China, the biggest buyer of Turkish natural stone sector, has been in the leading role in foreign sales this year again. Having increased its exports to China by 31 % , Turkey sold 4.368.598 tons of natural stone to the world giant and had 882.746.000 dollars in return. Also, in total block sales, led by China, 30 % increase was realized in the firs 11 months of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016. Block marble export revenues announced as 788.871.000 dollars in 2016 January-November period increased to 1.023.644.000 dollars in the same period of 2017.
Increase in exports to India continues
Figures for sales to India, the second biggest buyes after China, are pleasing. The amount Turkey put in the safe in the first 11 months of 2017 increased by 61 % compared to last year and was recorded as 75.397.000 dollars in return to 384.224 tons of natural stone export. Another notable country in block sales was Vietnam. Having increased its exports to Vietnam by 51%, Turkish natural stone sector realized 8.360.000 dollar revenue.
The USA remains the same
It is not that easy to say the liveliness in block market reflects in processed goods. The USA, the number 1 processed marble buyer of Turkey, remained the same again. Our export revenues from the USA increased by 2 % only in the first 11 months of 2017 compared to the same period of last year. Export revenues from the USA in the 11 month period was recorded as 269.027.000 dollars in return to 574.370 tons of natural stone export. A noticable development was the 18 % increase in sales to Australia and exceeding 30.000.000 dollar treshold, realizing 32.577.000 dollars.
Cold shower in Saudi Arabia
The USA remained the same but the real cold shower effect in processed marble export was from Saudi Arabia. Increased constantly in the past five years and realized as 110.000.000 dollars last year, exports to Saudi Arabia, decreased by 12 % in the first 11 months of this year, lowering the total to 97.000.000 dollars. Countries pleasing us this year in the Arab markets were Qatar with an increase by 15 % and Kuwait by 24 %. Total revenues from processed marble decreased by 1 % compared to last year’s same period and fell to 626.062.000 dollars.
Price per ton is decreasing
Yes, the 2bn dollar treshold is to be exceeded soon. It is very likely that total revenue target will be met. But the decrease in price per ton must be highlighted once more. While natural stone price per ton was 277 dollars in the first 11 months of last year, it is down to 259 dollars in 2017. And this situation is the primary problem for Turkish natural stone sector to be dealt with soon.
