Paper Delight - An Outlook to Turkish Paper Market

Turkey is the one of the most interesting emerging markets of 21st century. Both geographical location and demographic characteristics of the country is promising.
Geographically, Turkey is located at the eastern end of Europe, like a junction between Europe and Asia. Due to former relationship it is easy to find connections trough, Middle East, Balkan countries as well as former Soviet Republics.
On the other hand, according to demographic formation, Turkey is the one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

Total paper consumption volume of Turkey is relatively smaller comparing to World consumption league. According to 2006 statistics, Total market volume is approximately 3.750.000. - Tons.
Biggest segment in Turkish Paper Market is Corrugated with a share of 36%. Printing-Writing and Paperboard segments are runner-ups with the 21% and 18% shares. And News Print is the forth-biggest segment with a 14% share

Probably because of limited forestry and energy supplies, local paper production is still limited as well. According to statistics 48% of consumption is imported. This corresponds bout 2.00.00. - M-tones of local production. But the split of local production is dramatically different than the consumption picture. About 50% of production on the Corrugated segment. The second-biggest segment in local production is Paperboard with a share of 20%, which is, consists mainly grey and duplex board production.

Since there are no considerable local pulp capacities, Pulp imports are approximately 500.000. – Tones. This figures gives a clearer picture about the split of local production.

PRINT MARKET
Turkish Print Market is one of the fastest developing industry segments in local. Today big percentage of Turkish printers equipped with the best technology such as state of the art presses as well as finishing equipments.
According to statistics there are about 13.500.- print shops in Turkey. Approximately half of these are located around the Istanbul. (We would say the economic capitol of the country)
Due to effects of investments on the capacity, Turkish printers are struggling with the weak demand as well as tough competition.

Although, the unbalanced demand and supply situation in the market, most of them are trying to go through by specialization on the niches and rely on the development of advertising market.
Turkish paper market (as well as the print market) could be defined as “unsaturated” at the first glance. Total market volume is approximately 3.750.000.- tons but still consumption per capita is about 51.- Kgs. Consumption per capita has been developed 73% within five years. So, we would say that Turkey still has the most promising Paper and Print Market in the Europe.

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