TURKISH CERAMICWARE AND PORCELAINWARE INDUSTRY

The ceramic industry in Turkey has a long tradition which can be traced back several thousand years. In the Seljuk and Ottoman Periods, ceramic art acquired new dimensions and pieces of exquisite beauty. Until the late 15th century the center for ceramic and pottery production was Iznik (earlier called Nicaea). Today, Turkish ceramics of the Iznik style are world famous.

Turkey is rich in ceramic raw materials and the factories have the latest technology and qualified workforce. With the investments in modernization undertaken in recent years, the production technology has been brought up to date. Product quality has been achieved through product standards and quality assurance certifications. As a result, competitiveness has improved and export volume has increased. Except “Yildiz Çini”, all production facilities are in the private sector. Among the major producers in the sector, there are “Kütahya” (that is among the ten biggest porcelain producer in the world, second biggest in Europe) “Güral”, “Heris”, “Porland”, “Altin Çini”, “Gorbon” “Yildiz Çini” and “Edip Çini”. The producers not only meet the domestic demand for tableware but also export to European countries, the US, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and Asian countries, and also compete with leading producers in Italy and Spain.

The Turkish tableware and kitchenware market has shown steady growth in both production and export volume and this situation are expected to continue with highquality, highvalue products.

The total Turkish exports of tableware and kitchenware articles has been increasing in recent years and reached US $ 901 million in 2009 with an 9 % decrease compared to previous year.

Glassware constitutes the major part of tableware and kitchenware exports with a share of 45% of the total. Plastic, iron and steel, aluminium, ceramic tableware and kitchenware articles and electromechanical equipment and machines are the following items. As of 2009, Turkish tableware and kitchenware industry products are exported to more than 179 countries on five continents. In the same year, major markets for Turkish tableware and kitchenware industry was Germany, Iran, France, Iraq, the UK, Italy, Egypt, U.S.A. and Israel.

Turkey exhibits its table and kitchenware products in international and local fairs organized in Turkey. The fairs that are organized in Turkey through 2010 are listed below.

ZUCHEX FAIR

Date: 24.09.2010 – 27.09.2010
Venue: TÜYAP Fuar ve Kongre Merkezi Beylikdüzü, Istanbul.
Products: Glassware, stainless steel cookwares, plastic products, porcelain, electrical households.

4. IDEAL HOME HOUSEWARES & GIFT FAIR

Date: 25.03.201028.03.2010
Venue: TÜYAP Fuar ve Kongre Merkezi Beylikdüzü, Istanbul.
Products: Glassware, stainless steel cookwares, plastic products, porcelain, electrical households, home textile and wedding gifts.