The Turkish woodworking machinery sector, which has broken a new record by increasing its export figures at the end of each year since 2017, did not break the tradition in 2023. Despite inflation and a series of economic uncertainties that clearly show their effects all over the world, the sector increased its export rate by 5.30 percent compared to 2022 and exported machinery worth 160 million 634 thousand dollars.
Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) announced the foreign trade data. According to published foreign trade data, production in the woodworking machinery sector increased by 7.94 percent, exports by 5.30 percent, imports by 37.38 percent and domestic sales by 17.21 percent at the end of 2023. In the specified year, the ratio of exports to imports was 144 percent, while the foreign trade balance was at the level of 49 million.
At the end of 2023, woodworking machines (others) were exported the most by the Turkish woodworking machinery sector with 54 million 859 thousand dollars. Sawing Machines were the second most exported machine group with 35 million 496 thousand dollars; The third place was taken by Planing, Milling or Molding (By Cutting) Machines with 18 million 935 thousand dollars. The order of other machines exported is as follows: Woodworking Machines Which Carry Out Different Machine Operations Without Tool Changes Between Operations; Machining Centres; Bending or Assembling Machines Grinding, Sanding or Polishing Machines; Splitting, Slicing or Paring Machines.
84 percent of total imports from Germany, China and Italy
In the woodworking machinery sector, there was a significant increase in import rates by 37.38 percent at the end of 2023, and a total of 111 million 392 thousand dollars of machinery was purchased. One of the most important reasons for the increase in the import rate was China, which moved quickly in all sectors, especially in the field of production, after the pandemic period. When the countries from which Türkiye imports are examined, Germany ranks first with 35 million 694 thousand dollars. China ranks second with 34 million 490 thousand dollars, and Italy ranks third with 23 million 458 thousand dollars. Looking at the data, imports from Germany, China and Italy constitute 84 percent of Türkiye’s total imports. Finland, Taiwan, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Spain were the other countries from which Türkiye imported machinery throughout the year.
Sawing machines were most preferred items in imports
In 2023, Sawing Machines were most imported ones, with a total of 36 million 701 thousand dollars. This was followed by 19 million 712 thousand dollars paid for Machines for Working Wood, Hard Rubber, etc., Woodworking Machines Which Carry Out Different Machine Operations Without Tool Changes Between Operations; 14 million 786 thousand dollars were spent on woodworking machines (others); and 8 million 531 thousand dollars were paid for Drilling Or Mortising Machines.
Russia became the most important market for the sector in 2023
The most important market of the sector, which completed 2023 by reaching the 160 million dollar export target set at the beginning of the year, was Russia. The woodworking machinery sector exported a total of 24 million 285 thousand dollars of machinery to Russia in 2023. After Russia, Bulgaria ranked second with 6 million 305 thousand dollars, and Iraq ranked third with 5 million 966 thousand dollars. Spain was the fourth most exported country with 5 million 177 thousand dollars, and Algeria, where furniture imports are prohibited, was the fifth most exported country with 5 million 067 thousand dollars. Kosovo, Romania, Saudi Arabia and the USA were among the top 10 export markets of the sector. The fact that important countries such as Italy and the USA are among the export countries showed that there are important developments in the sector.