Mining Sector Sets Export Target of $5 Billion

Aydın Dinçer, Chairman of the Istanbul Minerals Exporters Association (İMİB), stated that mineral exports declined by 5.10% in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the same period of the previous year. Noting that they achieved USD 4.56 billion in exports in 2018 and aimed to close 2019 at USD 5 billion levels, İMİB Chairman Dinçer said that Turkey alone could meet the USD 3 billion natural stone imports that the United States conducts from all countries worldwide. Dinçer stated that this was the main objective of a half-hour meeting he held with U.S. Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross in September.

İMİB Chairman Aydın Dinçer, noting that production is conducted in 60 mineral types in Turkey and that the country has diversity in 150 different types of natural stone, disclosed that the country's marble varieties number 650.

Stating that this wealth should be evaluated through environmentally conscious sustainable mining, İMİB Chairman Dinçer conveyed that Turkey annually pays approximately USD 25 billion for imported coal, iron ore, gold, copper, lead, zinc and many minerals and metals. İMİB Chairman Aydın Dinçer, saying that as an association they are conducting intensive work both to reduce mining imports and increase exports, stated that in the first nine months of 2019, there was a 5.10% decline compared to the same period of 2018. Explaining that they closed 2018 with USD 4.56 billion in exports, İMİB Chairman Dinçer noted that they aimed to finish 2019 with USD 5 billion in exports. Conveying that the American market plays an important role in the sector's achievement of year-end targets, İMİB Chairman Dinçer, said that they export to America in the natural stone sector, which comprises an important item in the mining industry. Recalling that they held bilateral talks with U.S. Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross, who came to Turkey in September to increase natural stone exports to the U.S. valued at USD 400 million, Dinçer noted that America conducts natural stone imports worth USD 3 billion from around the world, and that Turkey has the capacity to meet this figure on its own. İMİB Chairman Dinçer conveyed that they are organizing trade delegation missions both to appropriately close the year's targets and to invest in the future. İMİB Chairman Dinçer, stated that since November 2018 they have organized trade delegation missions to 16 countries to introduce Turkish natural stone, and most recently between 25-28 September they participated in Marmomac 2019 Natural Stone Fair, the world's largest gathering. Expressing that they introduced Turkish natural stone at the fair where 68,000 industry professionals from 60 countries were present, İMİB Chairman Dinçer, "We are very rich in minerals. Natural stone constitutes half of our mineral exports. Turkey holds more than 33 percent of the world's natural stone reserves. We must make use of this wealth. Through correct, environmentally conscious sustainable mining and steady progress, we will reach even higher export figures by 2023. " he said.