Exporters from Denizli, which previously offered the natural stone mined in the region to the foreign market as a block, export the product they process and add value to 123 countries.
Denizli, which is among the important cities of Turkiye in the mining sector and produces quality products in terms of marble and travertine, continues to increase both its exports and its share in total exports with its strong potential.
Marble and processed natural stones are exported to 123 countries, primarily to the USA, France, China and Romania, from 160 enterprises throughout the province, especially in the Honaz district.
In addition to travertine, white, gray, beige, black and red marble varieties are also produced from the quarries. In recent years, business people who have switched to mechanization can process marble blocks and produce according to order.
Adding value to natural stone, the city doubled its exports in 10 years
While processed natural stone exports of $128 million were made from the city in 2012, this figure increased to $242 million in 2021. In the January-October period of 2021, companies from Denizli, which exported $203 million of processed natural stones, realized $206 million of foreign sales in the same period of this year.
Denizli, which ranks first in processed natural stone exports, is followed by Istanbul and Afyonkarahisar.
Denizli Exporters Union President (DENıB) Huseyin Memisoglu said that the city is one of the important centers of the world with its marble and natural stone quality.
Stating that the use of natural stones, which were preferred in buildings and monuments throughout history, has increased over time due to their beauty and durability, Memisoglu drew attention to the fact that today it has moved to larger areas from walls to floors, from statues to tombstones, from steps to ornaments.
Stating that the natural stone group consists of marble, travertine, lime and sandstone, granite, hard stones and building stones suitable for construction, Memisoglu stated that due to the increasing demand for marble and natural stones in the world, Turkiye’s export potential has also increased gradually.
Emphasizing that the share of the mining industry in the city’s total exports is 6.3%, Memisoglu reminded that Denizli, where more than half of Turkiye’s workable travertine reserves are located, also has a geographical indication certificate in this area.
“Our companies are better today than yesterday”
Explaining that they hope to exceed the last year’s figure in natural stone exports, Memisoglu said:
“Our marble industry is making its way with value-added products. Until 10 years ago, our companies were sending natural stone as blocks to abroad. Then mechanization started to become widespread and our companies started to process products, that is, made them value-added. Our companies found the opportunity to cut the natural stone thinner and pass it through different processes, make it more valuable and sell it. The stone is our value, our value. In this sense, it makes a great contribution to our exports. That’s why we have to sell the value we have today in the most valuable way possible. We should look at how we can make it value-added. Our companies are better today than yesterday. Hopefully, by the end of this year, we think that we will exceed $250 million in exports.”
Reminding that they had a more successful year as the sector than last year, Memisoglu added that he believed that they would make an export that befits them in the 100th anniversary of the Republic.
Source: Trthaber / Translated by Irem Yildiz