Although tight monetary policies, shrinking export markets, and deepening economic problems continued on a global scale and had an impact on the global woodworking machinery sector in the first half of 2025, Turkish machine manufacturers did not pause their export-oriented efforts. The Turkish woodworking machinery sector, which exported $68.4 million in the first half of the year, continued its tradition of generating a trade surplus.
Despite challenging global economic conditions and shrinking markets, the Turkish woodworking machinery sector once again demonstrated its resilience in exports during the first six months of the year and continued to expand into new markets. With exports totaling $68.4 million and imports amounting to $49.8 million, the sector’s export-to-import ratio reached 137%. The Turkish woodworking machinery sector, which exported machinery worth 1 million dollars or more to 23 different countries, recorded a trade surplus of 18.6 million dollars.
Russia, which was the sector’s largest export market in the first six months of last year with approximately $6 million, experienced a significant decline in the same period of 2025 with $3.5 million in exports. Although this situation shows that Türkiye has declined in this market, sector representatives managed to offset this loss by evaluating opportunities in different regions.
Spain was Türkiye’s most important export market in the first half of the year
The sector, which expanded its export network across various regions from Europe to the Middle East, continued to strengthen its presence in foreign markets by increasing its current market diversity. In this regard, Spain, which was not among the top 10 countries with the highest exports in the same period last year, stood out with a 67 percent increase in exports this year and became Türkiye’s largest export market.
Exports to Syria and Poland saw a surge
Following Spain, Poland and Syria were also among the markets that attracted attention with their export increases. Both countries, which were not among the top 10 countries with the highest exports in the first six months of last year, recorded significant increases in exports this year. Exports to Poland increased by 73 percent compared to the same period last year, while exports to Syria saw a dramatic increase. In the first half of 2024, exports to Syria amounted to only $50,000, but this year, they reached $2 million during the same period. This striking increase indicates that economic relations between Türkiye and Syria are beginning to revive as the effects of the war diminish, and mutual trade ties are strengthening.
No change in importing countries
Looking at import data, Türkiye imported the most woodworking machinery from China in the first six months of this year, as it did last year. Last year, Italy ranked second and Germany third, but this year Germany rose to second place, overtaking Italy. On the other hand, while 88% of total imports in the first six months of last year came from these three countries, this figure rose to 92% in the same period of 2025. This situation shows that Türkiye’s dependence on a limited number of countries for imports has increased.
