Turkish natural stone sales enjoy boom amid exports to China

The volume of Turkey's natural stone sales to China reached 625 million dollars in the first eight months of the year with a 38 percent jump since the same period in 2016, standing at more than one third of the overall exports to Asia's giant economy. 

"Natural stone is going back to its good old days in the Chinese market," Aegean Mining Exporters Association chairman Mevlüt Kaya told state-run Anadolu Agency in a recent interview in the Aegean province of İzmir, welcoming an end to Beijing's trade restrictions on the commodity. 

The association expects to double the $625 million of sales in the upcoming days.

The mining sector topped the $1.87 billion worth exports to China in the first eight months with nearly $1.4 billion, according to data provided by the association. 

China was the top exports market for Turkish mining companies as second-spot Belgium followed it with a mere $148 million. 

Chinese natural stone reserves are diminishing as Turkish reserves are still overflowing, Kaya said. 

Turkey will be attending the Xiamen Natural Stone Trade Show in March next year with the highest number of firms. 

Turkish marbles are expected to be seen all around the 2023 FIFA World Cup facilities in Qatar, Kaya added.