FURNITURE INDUSTRY IN TURKEY

Furniture production in Turkey dates back to the 19th century and was done in small

workshops as artisan production. However, by the rapid globalization and all other

aspects, present furniture industry is becoming a fashion sector.

In Turkey, furniture is produced both in workshops and industrial-scale manufacturing

units. Furniture production is highly fragmented among a large number of small

workshops. These small workshops play an important role in producing hand carved and

handmade furniture. Workshops are flexible establishments in nature and have enough

capacity and labor force to expand their production line in order to supply large orders.

Large-scale furniture firms produce standard models by using automated mass-production

techniques and most of their production is oriented towards export.

In accordance to data from Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), in 2009 furniture

production was realized as 6.4 billion Turkish Liras. According to the recent General

Census of Industry and Business Establishments (2008), the furniture sector employs

150,427 people and the industry has 34,438 companies manufacturing various furniture.

Moreover, capacity data of The Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity

Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) reports 40 companies who have over 250 employees and

155 companies who have over 100 employees. Besides, Istanbul Chamber of Industry’s

list of the top 500 industrial establishments of Turkey includes six furniture companies.

According to the list, these six companies are; Boytaş Mobilya San. ve Tic. A.Ş, Merkez

Çelik San. ve Tic. A.Ş, Merinos Halı Sanayi ve Tic. A.Ş, İstikbal Mobilya San. ve Tic. A.Ş,

Major SKT Oto Donanım San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and Teknik Malzeme Tic. ve San. A.Ş.

Furniture production in Turkey is concentrated mainly in İstanbul, Ankara, Bursa (İnegöl),

Kayseri, İzmir and Adana. The most important furniture production districts are İstanbul

and the region of Bolu-Düzce, which is famous for its production of wood products.

The well-known furniture-manufacturing district in Turkey, called “Siteler”, is located in

Ankara. The number of registered small and medium sized enterprises in “Siteler” is over

10,000. In Ankara, there are many labor–intensive small enterprises manufacturing

classical-handmade furniture and there are about 10 major furniture manufacturers who

have mass-production capabilities.

The wood industry is developing rapidly in the Bursa-İnegöl area, the third most important

furniture production region, which is surrounded by forest areas. The furniture industry of

the İnegöl area is small sized but has great potential to improve itself. Another important

furniture region is Kayseri, which has large capacity for the production of sofa beds, couch

beds and seven of the twenty two largest manufacturers of Turkey are established here.

İzmir also has a furniture production districts called “Karabağlar and Kısıkköy” which

supply furniture to the Aegean Region.  

PRODUCTION

In Turkey, furniture production can be classified in accordance with materials used as

wooden furniture (massive and veneered), metal furniture and others. Wooden furniture

has a major share in total furniture production. As it is known for good quality furniture, the

types of wood used and plywood inputs have to be taken into consideration. The main

types of wood used in the manufacture of massive furniture in Turkey are ash, beech, oak,

pine, linden and mahogany. In veneered furniture, oak, beech, walnut and mahogany are

used.

Turkish furniture factories use the latest technologies in producing furniture, which is

always up to world standards. Since 1990 the application of advanced technology and the

use of CNC benches in the Turkish furniture industry have been increasing. Today, all of

the large enterprises in the furniture sector use CNC benches. Most companies are

equipped with modern machinery which allows the production of good, export-quality

products. Quality control starts from the stage when the raw material is produced and

continues till the end of the packaging process. Most of the companies have already

obtained ISO 9000 certificates and other required quality certificates. The large scale firms

comply with world standards in their packaging processes. In packaging PE, PP, foam,

poly-urethane and cardboard boxes are used. Many of the large companies have special

packaging sections.

As with many other consumer products, furniture production is sensitive to changes in

fashion. Since furniture design is an important aspect of marketing, Turkish designers are

constantly following consumer preferences in foreign markets and introduce new designs

and make model variations and improvements.

Turkish furniture manufacturers and exporters are aware of the fact that market trends and

consumer behavior play an important role in the development and design of new products.

Since Turkey has a strong textile industry, Turkish furniture manufacturers have the

advantage of being able to use and to monitor a wide range of colorful new fabric

collections as upholstery.

EXPORTS

Turkey’s furniture exports have had an upward trend in recent years. In the last ten years, 

exports of Turkish furniture increased from US$192,1 million in 2001 to US $ 1,607.3

million in 2011. This is mainly due to improvements in capacity, quality and design. The

export figure for 2011 was US $ 1,607 million, representing an increase of 18 % with

respect to the previous year. Main export products were: wooden furniture (excl. for

offices, kitchens and bedrooms, and seats), wooden furniture for bedrooms (excl. seats)

and seats for motor vehicles. In 2011, Turkey ranked third in the world exports of seats

convertible into beds which also traditional items which are showing the large family,

hospitality and past nomadic characteristics of our nation.

In 2011, Turkey exported furniture to 172 countries throughout the world. The main

markets for furniture exports were Iraq, Germany, Azerbaijan, Iran and France. In recent

years, Turkish furniture companies have been establishing showrooms and depots in

increasing numbers in most of these countries. The Turkish contracting sector is one of the

major sectors exporting services. Turkish contractor companies who have undertaken

construction work abroad have completed many housing complexes, tourism projects,

hospitals and health center projects, most of which were decorated with Turkish furniture.

Turkish furniture is designed and made from the highest quality materials to ensure 

comfort, performance and attractive appearance for a very long life. Different styles are

produced such as classical, traditional and contemporary. With its designers and architects

combined with its flexible production capacity, the Turkish furniture industry is able to

satisfy the requirements of all individual markets all over the world.

Today, with all these aspects of the furniture industry, Turkey is among the most promising

furniture suppliers in the world.

TRADE FAIRS IN TURKEY

Turkish furniture is exhibited in many international and local fairs organized in Turkey. In

2012, over 20 fairs will be organized in this sector.

Some of them are;

􀂃 MODEKO 2012 Izmir Furniture Fair, in Izmir, in April

􀂃 ANKAMOB 2012 Ankara Furniture Fair, in Ankara, in April

􀂃 K.MOB 2012 Kayseri Furniture Fair, in Kayseri, in April

􀂃 MODEFEXPO 2012 Furniture and Decoration Fair, in Bursa, in April and in October

􀂃 ZOW 2012 Furniture Components and Accessories Fair, in Istanbul, in September

􀂃 Furniture Decoration Fair 2012 of Turkey, in Ankara, in October

􀂃 INTERMOB 2012 15. International Furniture Related Industry, Accessories,
Forestry Products and Wood, in Istanbul, in October

􀂃 Adana Furniture - Decoration Fair 2012, in Adana, in October

USEFUL LINKS AND ADDRESSES

􀂃 Istanbul Union of Wood and Forestry Products Exporters
www.iib.org.tr

􀂃 Aegean Forestry and Wooden Products Exporters' Union
www.egebirlik.org.tr

􀂃 Mediterranean Wooden And Forestry Products Exporters Union
www.akib.org.tr

􀂃 Kayseri Chamber Of Furniture Manufacturers And Wood Workers

www.kaymobodasi.org

􀂃 Association Of İnegöl Carpenters And Sellers/Makers Of Furniture
www.inmob.org.tr

􀂃 Ankara Chamber of Carpenter Trademen and Craftmen
Address : Yapıcı Sok. No:1/A 1, Siteler 06160, Altındağ ANKARA
Tel : (+90 312) 3494729
Fax : (+90 312) 3489167
E-mail : ankaramarangozlar@joturk.com

􀂃 Ankara Chamber of Furniture & Lacquerers Trademen & Craftmen
Address : Yapıcı Sok. No:1/A 1, Siteler 06160 Altındağ ANKARA
Tel : (+90 312) 3493535 /36
Fax : (+90 312) 3492680
E-mail : ankaramobilyacilar@joturk.com

􀂃 Izmir Chamber of Carpenters and Wood Workers
Address : 661/1 Sok. No:33 Şirinyer İZMİR
Tel : (+90 232) 2375152
Fax : (+90 232) 2543161
E-mail : izmirmarangozlar@hotmail.com 

TAGS :  Turkish furniture industry, Turkish furniture manufacturers, Turkish furniture suppliers, Turkish furniture exporters, import furniture from Turkey, buy  furniture from Turkey