Türkiye’s carpet industry is moving to strengthen its global position with an ambitious goal of reaching $3 billion in exports in 2026. Sector leaders say a renewed focus on the United States — where shipments declined in 2025 — will be central to the strategy.
Renewed Push to Regain U.S. Market Share
Speaking at an award ceremony honouring top-performing exporters, Istanbul Carpet Exporters’ Association (IHIB) Chair Ahmet Hayri Diler said the industry is determined to rebuild momentum in key markets. “We reshaped perceptions of Turkish carpets in Japan. Now we are determined to carry out broader initiatives in the United States,” he said, noting that Türkiye aims to position its carpets as a globally recognised brand.
Carpet exports to the U.S. dropped 9% year-on-year to $655 million in the first 11 months of 2025, prompting increased efforts to reinforce Türkiye’s presence.
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Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) President Mustafa Gültepe highlighted the country’s strong international standing, pointing out that Türkiye holds a 16.4% share of global carpet exports. He reported that carpets worth $2.9 billion were exported in 2024, with $2.6 billion recorded from January to November 2025.
Gültepe added that while national exports are projected to surpass $270 billion by year-end, growth remains concentrated in a few sectors. He stressed the need to broaden participation across industries and accelerate manufacturing-led export growth to achieve long-term economic targets.
