Turkish furniture sector gears up for post-pandemic period
As Turkey has started to ease measures against the coronavirus, the country's furniture sector is getting prepared for the post-pandemic period by accelerating production activities.
After the spread of the COVID-19 virus across the globe, several sectors had to reduce or stop their businesses in many countries, including Turkey.
The manufacturing sector was one of the most-affected sectors due to measures to stem the spread of the virus, such as lockdowns.
Koray Çalışkan, the chairman of Turkey's oldest furniture mall Modoko, said the sector decided to speed up production as of May 1.
The sector's exports decreased by 12% in March and around 40% in April on an annual basis, he said.
"It is very difficult to reach last year's export figures of $3.5 billion, this year's exports may reach $2-2.5 billion," he underlined.
"Our aim is not to slow down production, we focused on wedding shopping, online trade and summer houses in the domestic market," he added.
Modoko, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, had plans to open two furniture malls abroad, in the US and the United Arab Emirates, Çalışkan said, but after the pandemic, projects were postponed and they opened a website for online trade.
"Some firms have even increased their sales [during the pandemic period. There is mobility in sales of worktables, chairs, and more comfortable minimal seats," he stated.
Nuri Gürcan, the head of the Furniture Industry Businessmen's Association, said Turkey can raise its share in markets where China's activity has decreased during this period.
He recalled the $100 billion bilateral trade target between Turkey and the U.S., and said Turkey can take a share from the U.S. market.
Gürcan asserted...
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