Mining Sector Increased Exports in First Half of 2021

Turkey's oil is minerals. Of the 90 types of minerals in the world, 77 are found in our country. We possess 0.4% of the world's metal mineral reserves, 2.5% of industrial raw material reserves, 1.0% of coal reserves and 0.8% of geothermal potential.

Under the motto of "Sustainable Mining", with the slogan "Production relentlessly, export relentlessly", we will continue to produce and export. Although the Covid-19 virus emerged in China, our largest export market, and we were among the sectors most affected by the pandemic, in 2020 we earned 4.3 billion dollars in foreign currency. In addition to 4.3 billion dollars in exports, as a sector that supplies raw materials to the domestic market and all other sectors, we created a value of 40 billion dollars together with the domestic market and contributed 5% of GDP to the country's economy. More than 90% of the economic size we provide is composed of domestic inputs, meaning added value remains in our country. We act with the awareness that the 83 million people living in Turkey are the tenants of the mines they own. As we extract minerals, one of Turkey's most important indigenous resources, with an army of 150,000 miners, and bring them to the economy under the motto of "Sustainable Mining", while ensuring the livelihood of 2 million of our people from the mining sector, we contribute not only to the well-being of our 83 million people, but also to improving the lives of 8 billion people in the world. In this context, in 2020 we exported Turkish minerals to 200 countries and free zones. Again in 2020, since we were unable to conduct physical events, we held all our activities on online platforms. In addition to digital training we provided to our member companies in URGE natural stone clusters, in November 2020 we organized a virtual sectoral natural stone trade delegation to Vietnam, and in February 2021 a virtual sectoral natural stone trade delegation to Middle Eastern countries. To increase Turkey's competitiveness in the mining sector and increase the return from minerals, we need well-trained qualified engineers. For this purpose, within the framework of the protocol we signed with YÖK as the Mining Sector Board (EMİB, İMİB and BAİB), we began awarding scholarships in 2020-2021 to students who chose mining engineering, geological engineering and ore preparation engineering and were ranked accordingly. Of Turkey's 80,000 successful students, 146 used their first 5 preferences for these departments and were placed. These students qualified to receive scholarships in amounts reaching the minimum wage. We hope that these new students joining us, our young people, will graduate from their departments well-equipped for our sectors and accelerate this reform movement that we have initiated in our factories, in factories they will open themselves or in their businesses.   During the pandemic period, we benefited from many restructuring arrangements made by the state. As you know, in March 2020, as a result of our Union's initiatives, we ensured that the mining sector was included in the economic stability shield measures by the Treasury and Finance Ministry.   On the other hand, we served as a bridge between our members and Türk Eximbank regarding requests for extending the maturity of loans taken from Türk Eximbank. We feel the power of speaking as one voice with other mining institutions and all our Civil Society Organizations in the demands we make from these institutions. When a majority unites on a decision, it transforms into this vote unanimity and creates incredible synergy.   Within the scope of projects conducted jointly by the European Union and Turkey's Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, the application for the "Project to Improve Occupational Health and Safety in Mines" was accepted and received official approval, and we are currently continuing project activities at full speed. With this project, whose contract we signed in December, we believe we can significantly prevent work accidents occurring in mines.   Looking at the January-June 2021 period, our total mineral exports realized 2.8 billion dollars with a 52% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. The largest reason for this increase stems from the increase in our metallic ore and natural stone exports. As you know, in the first half of 2020, our exports came to a near standstill. However, as the normalization process began worldwide, our exports returned to the growth trend they had caught. During this period, in metallic ores; iron ore in particular, along with lead, copper, zinc, chromium; in industrial raw materials, feldspar, and in natural stone products, both block and processed natural stone products are increasing. We sell processed products to those who want them and block marble to others. Turkey's rich color and pattern diversity gives us an advantage in world markets. Despite container shortage problems and increases in freight rates, we are having a successful year. We are proceeding with confident steps towards our 2 billion dollar target set for the end of 2021 for natural stone. As you know, there is a 20 billion dollar market in the global mining sector. Increasing our share of this market is not only possible by selling more products. In addition to that, we must sell value-added products. We are working day and night for this.