EMİB raises exports to $184.5 million

As a result of positive marketing activities reflecting on export figures, Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği's exports in the January-February period of 2024 increased by 14.5% from USD 161 million to USD 184.5 million. Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, which achieved success in the first two months of 2024, seeks to extend this performance throughout the full year, conducting intensive preparations for the Xiamen Natural Stone and Technologies Fair in China in March and the İzmir MARBLE Natural Stone and Technologies Fair in April. Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Chair İbrahim Alimoğlu, Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Vice Chair Faik Tokatlıoğlu, Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Vice Chair İbrahim Altınpınar, Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Member Reyhan Sezgin shared their views on EMİB's 2024 activities and current sectoral developments at a press conference.

We achieved USD 5.7 billion in exports as the mining sector in 2023

Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Chair İbrahim Alimoğlu stated: "Turkey ranks among the world's important players in natural stone and general mining production and exports. Our rich mineral reserves, quality products, promising technological infrastructure and competitive prices continue to strengthen our position in the sector. As Turkey, we export nearly 80 minerals. Beyond direct mining exports, our minerals contribute indirectly to our economy as raw materials for other sectors. As the mining sector, we achieved USD 5.7 billion in exports in 2023. USD 1.9 billion of our exports, equivalent to one-third of the total, was realized as natural stone exports. Our exports, which were USD 6.5 billion in 2022, declined by 11% in 2023. Difficulties encountered both locally and in the global economic order caused this decline."

Fast start to the year

Chair Alimoğlu stated: "In line with Turkey's overall mining exports, our Association's exports also declined in 2023 compared to the previous year. As Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, we achieved USD 1.06 billion in mining exports with our members. More than half of our exports consisted of natural stone. In natural stone exports, processed natural stone led the way. However, we are optimistic about 2024. In January, we organized a sectoral trade delegation with participation from 17 of our companies to Saudi Arabia. The Turkish natural stone sector increased its exports to Saudi Arabia in 2023 by 39%, rising from USD 89 million to USD 123 million. The feedback we received from trade delegation participants demonstrates that we will further increase our exports."

We established strong ties with Turkish students

İbrahim Alimoğlu said: "In February, we made an info stand participation at the Surface Design Show held in the United Kingdom, where we introduced our sector. In the UK, we established strong ties with architects, interior designers, industrial designers and Turkish students studying architecture, interior design and industrial design in the UK. Also in February, we organized national participation for the first time at the South Korea KINTEX fair with 10 of our companies. We did more than just participate in the fair in South Korea. We held highly productive meetings with the Korea International Contractors Association, Korea Natural Stone Association and Korea Importers Association. We had a very beneficial week in South Korea. During the fair, our companies held numerous business meetings with visitors. Starting from 2025, we have begun working to secure our place at the KINTEX Fair with much more intensive participation."

Mining sector participating in China's Xiamen with 56 companies

Alimoğlu said: "This month we will realize our national participation organization at the Xiamen International Stone Fair, which we have participated in for years, with 56 of our companies and with a stand we will open together with the Western Mediterranean Exporters Association. On 17-20 April 2024 at the İzmir MARBLE Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, our Turkish natural stone sector will meet importers coming from all four corners of the world. Through the "Buying Delegation Organization" we will organize as Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, we will create grounds for increased new commercial ties. Before the year ends, we are rapidly continuing our efforts to organize trade and buying delegations with distant countries, particularly Indonesia and Australia."

USD 60 billion in added value

Chair Alimoğlu stated: "The 'AMORF Natural Stone Project and Design Competition' which we organize to strengthen the ties between the Turkish natural stone sector and architects and designers will come to life for the 5th time in 2024. As Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, we have always said 'People First'. Although the Turkish Mining sector appears to have an export volume of USD 5.7 billion, by meeting the raw material needs of many sectors including automotive, energy, construction and IT, it creates USD 60 billion in added value. With the motto 'Our Life is Mining', we will continue producing and exporting in 2024 and beyond. With the support of the marketing activities we conducted in the first two months of 2024, we have stopped the negative trend in our export figures."

We target our mining sector to exceed USD 6.5 billion and the natural stone sector to exceed USD 2 billion by the end of 2024

İbrahim Alimoğlu stated: "Turkey's mining sector increased its exports by 7.2% from USD 838 million to USD 899 million. During the same period, our Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği's exports showed an even more successful graph. Our Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği increased its exports in the January-February period of 2024 by 14.5% to USD 184 million. I sincerely congratulate all mining exporters who contributed to this success. With the intensive marketing activities we will conduct in 2024, we believe we will end the losses our mining sector experienced in 2023. By the end of 2024, we target our mining sector to exceed USD 6.5 billion in total and the natural stone sector to exceed USD 2 billion. As Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği, we will work 365 days, 24 hours to bring USD 1.25 billion in foreign currency to our country by the end of 2024."

Joint Turquality Project from mining sectors

Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Vice Chair Faik Tokatlıoğlu said: "International architects who have achieved success in the AMORF Natural Stone Project and Design Competition serve on our jury. Therefore, it is a major source of motivation and networking for participants. Turkey has the Turquality mechanism. The 'Turkish Tastes-TURQUALITY Project', which is supported by the Ministry of Commerce and implemented with the participation of 6 food exporter associations under the umbrella of Ege Exporters Associations, aims to increase the preference for Turkish food products in the USA and is being carried out very successfully. We are also working on our Turquality Project with our mining sectors. We will share details with the public once the main outlines are determined around the middle of 2024."

Recovery forecast after second quarter

Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Vice Chair İbrahim Altınpınar stated: "Energy costs and energy prices have increased significantly in marble quarries and marble factories. The exchange rate is not at desired levels. There is widespread belief among exporters that the dollar exchange rate should be at 40-42 levels. The low exchange rate has an incredible impact on sectors. The crisis is not only in our country but a global problem. I believe there will be recovery after the second quarter. Turkey is rich in natural stone with over 600 types of marble, but our prices and costs are very high. Expectations are very high but you cannot compete because your prices are too high. The Marble Fair is among the world's top three marble fairs. We come after Italy and China. Our marble prices are competitive with Italy. Our sector is making every effort it can; demand is very high. We have made mistakes in branding in terms of making Turkish stone a leading brand. Rather than selling a lot, we are working on how we can proceed in branding and selling stone with added value. The entire sector must support this stone. We have been growing our sector since the 1940s. In recent years the sector has reached a good place but there is a long way to go in branding and selling stone with added value. We have started selling stone we called unprocessed at very good prices. We believe we will secure our place in the world in branding. The same type of marble can be given three different names; we should operate under a single name. The sector must become aware. For example, energy costs in Iran are very low. Turkey's most efficient quarry operates at 10% efficiency. Turkey's average is between 3.5% and 5%. In Burdur and Isparta the efficiency rate is between 1% and 1.5%. Iran's productivity rate is in the 35%-40% range. Iran will be a major competitor."

The market is wide open for us in South Korea

Ege Maden İhracatçıları Birliği Management Board Member Reyhan Sezgin, discussing mining exporters' contacts in South Korea, said: "South Korea imports granite and marble primarily from China. With the pandemic, we observed that consumption habits changed and they placed importance on home decoration. Their social media use also affects their preferences and their interest in marble is increasing. They know very few varieties of Turkish stone. With more visits and promotion we can increase Turkish stone's market share. We are also hopeful about the Xiamen fair this year. Beyond block sales, we expect the fair to be visited by sized-product buyers from Australia, the USA and other countries."