Carpets worth 2 billion 17 million dollars were exported from Türkiye in 9 months

According to the information compiled by the AA correspondent from the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), machine-made carpets took the largest share in the sector's exports with 1 billion 563 million 158 thousand dollars.

Machine-made carpets were followed by tufted carpets with 351 million 666 thousand dollars, handmade carpets with 92 million 196 thousand dollars and rugs with 10 million 107 thousand dollars.

On a regional basis, the highest exports were made to the countries of the American continent with 605 million 608 thousand dollars. The Middle East ranked second with 515 million 330 thousand dollars, and European countries ranked third with 331 million 741 thousand dollars.

On a country basis, the USA maintained its first place with exports of 448 million 37 thousand dollars, an increase of 16.6 percent. The USA was followed by Saudi Arabia with a 9.4 percent increase and 181 million 323 thousand dollars, and the United Kingdom with a 23.4 percent increase and 114 million 187 thousand dollars.

The impact of problems in logistics on exports

TİM Carpet Sector Board Chairman İskender Kaplan told the AA correspondent that the sector maintained last year's export levels despite the negativities experienced around the world.

Stating that the sector maintains its export potential but also has targets for increase, Kaplan stated that the problems experienced in the fields of raw materials, commodities and logistics negatively affect the export performance.

Kaplan said, "We expected an average increase of 15 to 20 percent, but as you know, we could not bring our exports to the levels we wanted due to the wars that started with the Strait of Hormuz and the growth of the Ukrainian-Russian War. As the carpet industry, of course, we always work with the goal of growth. As you know, if it were not for the problems in raw materials and commodities and the problems in logistics, we would be at least 15 percent more." he said.

Stating that the industry's year-end export target was initially 3.5 billion dollars, but they revised this target downwards due to the problems experienced, Kaplan stated that there were serious problems in shipments.

Stating that logistics costs have increased, especially in exports to the Middle East, Kaplan noted that the cost of shipments previously made by containers to Qatar, Dubai, Oman and Kuwait has increased.

Kaplan stated that the cost of container transportation, which is approximately 1500 dollars, has increased up to 10 thousand dollars, and that the problems encountered in transit visa procedures in land transportation through Saudi Arabia also disrupted the shipments.

Explaining that many trucks are waiting at the border gates and warehouses are full, Kaplan added that the disruption of shipments negatively affects production and exports.