BUILDING MATERIALS IN TURKEY

Construction is one of the key sectors in Turkey, being one of the main drivers of private

and public investments in Turkey. As a result of economic reforms Turkey has established

a large and strong construction industry in a short time. Today, Turkish construction and

engineering companies are able to design, erect, build and operate almost all kinds of civil

and industrial projects such as dams, hydroelectric and thermal power plants, industrial

plants, airports and seaports, large scale petroleum and natural gas pipelines, fertilizer

plants, petrochemical complexes and refineries, motorways, tunnels, bridges, large

housing projects, hotels and all kinds of sophisticated buildings. Turkish contractors have

achieved a volume of work exceeding US$ 19,6 billion in 2011 in 43 foreign countries

spread over four continents.

The concepts of advanced technology, on-time delivery, quick response, high quality, use

of reasonably priced Turkish labor and goods, and equipment and building materials of

international standards have enabled the Turkish construction sector to compete with the

world.

Turkey is a major producer of basic construction materials such as cement, building steel,

timber, bricks, PVC, polyethylene, glass, ceramic tiles and sanitary ware, being especially

strong and competitive in producing construction steel, cement, ceramic and glass

products.

BASIC CONTRUCTION MATERIALS

Iron and Steel

Turkey has a huge iron and steel industry, which produces major inputs for the  

construction industry. Turkey’s steel production rose 34.1 million tons in 2011. There are

29 firms, and more than 35.000 people are employed in the sector.   

6.2 billion tons of long products exported in 2011, and major markets for long products are

the UAE, Iraq, Singapore, Egypt and Israel. 

Turkey produces different types of iron and steel pipes / pipe fittings. Turkey’s iron and

steel pipes / pipe fittings exports reached US$ 1.8 billion in 2011. Major markets for iron

and steel pipes / pipe fittings are the USA, Iraq, The United Kingdom, Czech Republic and

Romania.

Cement

Cement, which is the basic construction material, is produced by 67 cement plants in

Turkey. 19 of them are grinding units and the rest are integrated units. After the

privatization program, capacity expansion and investments in technology in the sector

accelerated. These positive developments has brought the quality of cement up to

international standards.

In 2010 Turkey’s cement export ranked first in the world. In 2010 the Turkish cement

industry reached an annual production of 62.7 million tons. Turkish cement industry

provides employment for more than 15 thousand employees.  

In 2011, export earnings of the sector reached US$ 914 million. In 2011 major markets for

Turkish cement exports were Iraq, Syria, Russia, Brazil and Israel.

Natural Stones

Turkey’s total probable marble reserves are 5.1 billion m3 –13.9 million tons. Turkey has a

33% share in the world's marble reserves.

In Turkish natural stone sector, there are about 1.500 mines, 2.000 plants and 9.000

workshops. The sector has also more than 300 thousand employees.

Total natural stone exports were US$ 1.7 billion in 2011. Processed marble ranks first with

US$ 814 million exports in natural stone exports. In 2011 the main countries which Turkey

exported processed marble to were the USA, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom,

Canada, and France.

Ceramic

Ceramics are amongst Turkey’s oldest and best-known products. Turkey’s share in world  

ceramic tiles production rose to 3,2%. There were also 30 thousand employments in the

sector. Ceramic tile exports valued US$ 521 million in 2011. 

Turkey ranks first in Europe in the production of ceramic sanitaryware, as well.

Sanitaryware production reached 17 million units in 2011. Sanitaryware exports were

about US$ 178 million in 2011. Turkey ranks first in Europe in the exports of sanitaryware

in 2011.

Glass

The glass industry is one of the most important and highly developed industries in Turkey.

Today, a group of companies, namely, Sisecam, accounts for approximately 90% of

annual production. There are about 20 large and medium-scale firms dealing with

production in the sector other than Sisecam and a certain number of small ones are also

involved in production. The glass sector has approximately 20 thousand employees.

The Turkish glass industry has a highly intensive production technology and a vast

accumulation of know-how combined with a high level of production capacity, good quality

and wide sales services. Sisecam ranks 6th in Europe and 13th in the world in the glass

production capacity.

The industry has shown an increasing trend in production in recent years and building

glass production capacity was approximately 2,9 million tons in 2010.

Exports of the glass industry have been increasing continuously and totaled US$ 124

million in 2011. The major export countries are Iraq, Azerbaijan, Israel, Turkmenistan and Russia.

Plastic-based Building Products

The domestic production of basic plastic raw materials has naturally resulted in a strong

plastic processing industry in Turkey. At present, there are about 5,000 plastics processing

companies, which are mainly small and medium-scale. In the plastic sector, more than 200

thousand people have been employed.

In 2011, US$ 1.1 billion worth of plastic building materials were exported. The plastic

building materials were exported mainly to Iraq, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Georgia.

The Turkish plastic sector today has attained world standards as far as raw materials,

semi-finished and finished products are concerned. Finished plastic products are expected

to comply with the related Turkish standards (TSE), International standards (ISO) and the

standards set by the EU.

Paints and Coatings

Parallel to the developments in the construction, automotive and marine industries of

Turkey, the paints and coatings industry has also developed and has became one of the

most dynamic sectors of the Turkish Industry.

In 2011 the total value of paints and coatings' exports reached US$ 364 million. The paints

and coatings industry products were exported mainly to Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia.

The paint sector has reached world quality standards. The number of firms which have

ISO 9000 certification is rapidly increasing in Turkey. The dyes and paints sector has

adapted itself to ecological standards which are particularly developed in Europe.

EXPORTS

Building materials exports reached about US$ 19.7 billion in 2011 with 20% growth.

Iron and steel products with an export value of US$ 10 billion were the largest product

group in sector exports. Within this group, iron & steel bars, sections and wires (US$ 6.2

million) rank first, and pipes and pipe fittings (US$ 1.8 million) rank second by value.

Insulated wires with an export value of US$ 1.5 billion were one of the largest product

groups. Plastic-based building products exports also ranked high with a value of US$ 1.2

billion in 2011. 

Turkish building materials were exported to about 200 countries in 2011. The main export

markets are Iraq, Germany, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Turkish building materials are exhibited in international and local fairs organized in Turkey.

In 2012, 10 main building materials related fairs, which are listed below, will be organized

in Turkey.


TRADE FAIRS IN TURKEY

􀂃 Eurasia Floor - 12th Floor Covering Materials Sector Fair
March, Gaziantep

􀂃 Unicera 24th International Ceramic, Bathroom, Kitchen Fair
March, Istanbul

􀂃 Kitchen World 2012 8th International Kitchen, Bathroom Furniture, And Built-In
Appliances Fair-March, Istanbul

􀂃 6. Yapidecoor Ankara 2012
March, Ankara

􀂃 Isk - Sodex 2012
May, Istanbul

􀂃 35. International Yapi / Turkey Build 2012 İstanbul –
May, Izmir

􀂃 Yapitech 2012 - 11st International Build Product And Technology Expo –
May, Trabzon

􀂃 25th International Yapi / Turkeybuild 2012 Ankara Fair
September, Ankara

􀂃 18th International Yapi / Turkeybuild 2012 İzmir Fair
October, Izmir

􀂃 20. International Yapex - Building Materials, Construction Technology And Building
Renovation - October, Antalya. 

etiketler :  Turkish building materials market, Turkish building materials manufacturer companies, Turkey building materials export,
Turkish iron and steel export , Turkish cement export and Turkish cement market ,Turkish natural stone export ,
Turkish natural stone exporter companies, Turkish natural stone manufacturer ,Turkish natural stone producers, Turkey natural stone suppliers