In physical terms, deliveries amounted to 126 million 97 thousand square meters of carpet products in January-March, reports Anadolu Agency. The United States remains the largest sales market.
According to the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Unions, Turkish carpets were supplied to 182 countries and free economic zones.
Machine-made carpets accounted for the largest revenue of $501.8 million. Turkey remains the world leader in this segment, providing 70% of the world’s need for carpets made in this way. At the same time, 53% of carpets are produced in Gaziantep.
Exports of customized carpets (tufted carpets) totaled $105 million in the first quarter, while exports of handmade carpets amounted to about $26 million.
Following the US, large volumes are shipped to Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Zeynal Abidin Kaplan, head of the Southeast Anatolia Carpet Exporters Association, said Turkish carpets are shipped to all regions of the world. He said global economic difficulties and armed conflicts have an impact on exports, but the industry continues to operate.
At the end of the year, the sector expects to reach $3.5 billion in exports, although further dynamics will depend on the foreign economic situation.
