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According to statistics provided by the
General Secretariat of Ýstanbul Exporters
Associations (ÝÝB), Turkey ranks as the 16th
largest exporter of furniture in the world in terms
of revenue, having brought in an impressive
$1.331 billion in 2008. This is a striking figure
given the sector’s humble beginnings and given
the fact that in 2003, the sector was barely on the
map with exports totaling a mere $435 million.
In between then and now, the Turkish furniture
sector has grown at an outstanding pace, experienc-
ing an average growth rate of approximately 32 per-
cent per year. Contrast this with other major growth
sectors, such as the automotive sector, the flagship
of Turkey’s exports whose annual growth averaged
21.5 percent in the same period, and the dynamism
of the furniture sector becomes all the more clear.
In fact, when compared to the other top 20 
furniture exporting countries, Turkey was in the
forefront in terms of growth, averaging an an-
nual growth rate of 29.1 percent last year. The
nearest rival was China, the leading global fur-
niture exporter, which experienced a growth
rate of 21.1 percent during the same period.
Although the crisis has resulted in a consider-
able drop in exports in 2009 as Turkey’s traditional
export markets have been wracked by the recession,
Turkey is poised to increase its market share further.
Not only does the country benefit from a unique ge-
ographic position, serving as a bridge between East
and West, but of equal importance, the country’s
long history and reputation for producing classic
oriental designs, popular with Turkey’s immediate
eastern neighbors, suggests that the country will be
best placed to extend its reach into neighboring
Middle Eastern and Central Asian markets whose
disposable income is increasing at a much more
rapid rate than those of the European markets.
Already, Turkey’s exports to Iraq, the second
largest importer of Turkish furniture, has almost
doubled in the last two years, from about $58 mil-
lion in 2006 to over $104 million in 2008. Iran is also
absorbing increasing amounts of Turkish imports,
moving up on the list from a distant number eight
of the top 10 importing countries, to number four.
And Azerbaijan, a country that was not even ranked
amongst the top export recipients in the furniture
industry in 2006, witnessed a dramatic increase in
imports from Turkey, climbing from just $29 million
in 2007 to $47 million in 2008 and landing itself in
ninth position of Turkey’s top 10 export markets.
“These classical designs are absolutely amaz-
ing” said Chantelle Oliver, an antique and classi-
cal furniture expert, speaking to Today’s Zaman
at Tepe Home in Þiþli. Oliver, who was on a
buying trip in Turkey from North America, said
that Turkey has the best classical eastern-style
furniture: “In North America you can find only
cheap imitation furniture in this style which is
marketed to lower income groups originating
from this region. The affluent bring their furni-
ture with them from Turkey, Iran or wherever.
What little quality there is, is second-hand and
is, for the most part, furniture that is being trad-
ed in by those same affluent people who brought
it with them when they immigrated. … The silk
brocades, the gilded wood, it’s simply beautiful.”
But it’s not only classical styles that Turkish
furniture is known for. An increasing amount of
the furniture that is being exported to countries
such as Germany is now in direct competition
with established producers like the Italians and
Poles for spots in contemporary homes and of-
fices. Turkey’s market share is increasing at a
faster pace than those established producers.
It is hoped by many that once economies return
to normal and the smoke clears, Turkey’s inroads
into Europe and North America and the gains in
market share that they have gotten over their com-
petitors will hopefully help them to extend this lead.