Turkish ceramic industry sees recovery

After suffering a contraction in 2009, when production dropped to 205 million sq.m and exports to 67 million sq.m, the Turkish ceramic industry saw a recovery in 2010 with a sharp upturn in the domestic market and a significant increase in exports.

According to figures published by the Turkish ceramic manufacturers association, the construction industry reported a growth rate of 8.3% in the first quarter, followed by 21.9% in the second quarter and 24.6% in the third quarter. This fuelled an increase in tile and sanitaryware production of between 10% and 20% according to the activities of the individual companies. Tile exports rose by 20% and sanitaryware exports by 10% over 2009. The prospects are also good for 2011, when the sector’s growth is expected to continue with an estimated increase in domestic consumption of around 15%.

An interview with Zeynep Bodur Okyay, chairwoman of the Turkish ceramic tile manufacturers’ association, is published in the recently released issue 90 of CWR.