Turkey is recommended for nearshoring

The top 10 is their goal: Turkish metal goods manufacturers want to become one of the ten largest export nations in this sector. To show the global industry how they are already positioned, their association IDDMIB (Istanbul Association of Exporters of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Products) has set up a large information stand in Hall 10.2 of the International Hardware Fair.

The Turkish hardware sector was worth USD 23.8 billion in 2023. Of this, products worth USD 11.65 billion were exported; this corresponds to 5.6 percent of the Turkish economy's total export volume of USD 255.8 billion. Four years earlier, the industry had only exported goods worth USD 7.4 billion.

The EU alone accounts for USD 4.4 billion or 37.77 percent of Turkey’s hardware exports. With a share of 11.1 percent of the industry's total exports, Germany is the most important buyer country. In second place - also in 2023 - was Russia with a share of 8.06 percent, followed by Iraq (6.1 percent), Romania (4.16 percent) and the USA (3.91 percent). The ten largest importers of hardware products "Made in Turkey" account for a volume of USD 5.41 billion, or 46.5 percent of total exports. In total, Turkey exports metal goods to 210 countries.

The Turkish industry's position in copper products is internationally significant and recognised. Turkey is currently in sixth place in Europe and 17th place worldwide in the ranking of exporting nations for copper pipes and fittings. In the aluminium segment, Turkish companies are in eleventh place in Europe and 22nd place worldwide in the export ranking.

With figures like these, the Turkish industry and its association see themselves as an ideal partner in the nearshoring discussion taking place in Europe. In terms of skilled workers, experience and infrastructure, and of course above all because of the comparatively short delivery routes, Turkey is positioning itself against the competition from the Far East. The company is also focusing on the environment: production in Turkey is already running on 40 percent green energy - a proportion that is set to rise to 60 percent in three years, the IDDMIB press office assured visitors to the trade fair stand. The company is strictly committed to the EU's CO2 regulations. The stand was designed accordingly: "Sustainable hardware. For greener futures" was the key claim.

The driving force behind the association is Çetin Tecdelioğlu, who was elected president of the IDDMIB in 2022. He is a board member of Civtec…