New Target for Ege Mineral Exporters' Association: USD 2 Billion in Exports

The Aegean Mining Exporters’ Association has begun its 2026-2030 term under the motto “Shaping the Future of the Sector Together”. The association aims to raise exports, which climbed to USD 1.52 billion over the past year, to USD 2 billion in the new term. Eighty-nine member companies based in Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Ankara were honoured at the “Stars of Export Awards Ceremony”.

The Aegean Mining Exporters’ Association (EMİB) marked the start of its 2026-2030 term with events held in Afyonkarahisar, one of the leading production centres of the natural stone sector.

The association held a “Stars of Export Awards Ceremony” for its 89 members based in Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Ankara, which contributed USD 265 million to the USD 1.369 billion of exports it recorded in 2025.

At the ceremony, held at the Korel Thermal Hotel in Afyonkarahisar, Şuayp Demirel, Tureks-GM Mermer Granit and Bazalto Madencilik took the top three places.

New export target of USD 2 billion
İbrahim Alimoğlu, President of the Aegean Mining Exporters’ Association, said the association’s exports had risen 13 per cent over the past year from USD 1.369 billion to USD 1.519 billion, and announced a new target of USD 2 billion.

Drawing attention to shifts in global trade, rising cost and financing pressures and the effect of geopolitical developments on export markets, Alimoğlu said they aimed to build a more selective, data-driven and measurable working model over the 2026-2030 period.

Alimoğlu said the new-term strategy would rest on five core priorities, the first of which is branding and value-added production.

Noting that the position of Turkish natural stone in international markets must rest not only on reserves but also on design, innovation and brand value, Alimoğlu said the AMORF Design Competition and TURQUALITY work were to be developed with broader industry participation.

“The right market, the right buyer and a measurable result”
Diversifying export markets is also among the priorities of EMİB’s new-term strategy.

By planning trade fairs and trade delegations on a more data-driven basis, the association aims to identify target buyers before events take place.

Alimoğlu summed up the approach for the new term as “not more activity but more impact; not more fairs but the right fair; not more delegations but the right buyer”.

In the first three months the plan is to determine target countries and performance indicators, to reassess the AMORF and TURQUALITY work, and to prepare files of solutions for regulatory and financing problems.

Within the first six months the aims are to draw up target buyer lists, to begin work on new markets and to strengthen dialogue with public institutions in Ankara.

Licensing and permit processes on the sector’s agenda
The third priority area of EMİB’s new term will be regulation, mining licences and permit processes.

The association plans to address the problems facing the sector more systematically with public institutions and, rather than simply identifying problems, to develop workable solution proposals.

Regular public dialogue and regulatory workshops are planned within this scope.

Regional member meetings and company visits are also planned for the new term so that the needs of industry representatives can be gathered directly from the field.

Natural stone accounts for a high share of Afyonkarahisar’s exports
Muhammet Öztürk, Coordinating President of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, said the natural stone sector was one of the cornerstones of the Afyonkarahisar economy.

According to figures provided by Öztürk, Afyonkarahisar increased its exports by 25 per cent in 2025, from USD 341 million to USD 428 million. USD 284 million of that came from the natural stone sector.

In the January-July period of 2026, Afyonkarahisar’s total exports were USD 259 million, with natural stone exports at USD 169 million.

Also drawing attention to the Ministry of Trade’s “Export Statistics by Province of Operation”, Öztürk said Afyonkarahisar recorded USD 841 million of exports in 2025 on a province-of-operation basis, of which around USD 555 million came from the natural stone sector.

Öztürk said he believed that, with the contribution of the mining sector, Afyonkarahisar would soon pass the USD 1 billion mark in exports.

Awards for 89 exporting companies
EMİB honoured a total of 89 member companies based in Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Ankara for their export performance in 2025.

At the awards ceremony the companies were assessed in the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

Top three
Şuayp Demirel
Tureks-GM Mermer Granit
Bazalto Madencilik
Platinum Category

Adoğaltaş, ACK Mermer Madencilik, Ankamar Enerji Madencilik, Aymar Doğaltaş Madencilik, Emek Mermer, Karamehmet Mermer, Makomar Mermer, Martura Stones, Megamer Proje Mermer, Rustica Stone, Şenler Mermer, Şentaş Marble.

Gold Category
Al Amin Mermer, Alimoğlu Mermer, AlpMar Mermer, Dervişoğlu Traverten, İpek Doğal Taş, Kaymer Madencilik, Kopturoğlu Mermer, Koral Stone, Lera Doğal, Mevlüt Çetinkaya, Modamar Mermer, PNR Doğal Taş Madencilik, Sanata Mermer, Traverten Mermer, Umbrella Stones.

Silver Category
Afyon Marble, Ahmetpaşa Mermer, Ayda Stone, Aygünler Doğal Taş, Ayyıldız Maden, Baykara Petrol, Cakmaklar Mermer, Dream Stone, Elle Natural Stone, Gençler Mermer, Göltaş Granit, Gürel Mermer, İbrahim Uğur Doğal Taş, Kenan Şahin, KMK Mermer, Marmi Di Victorious, Marmosium Mermer, Mehmet Aygün Mermer, Palmira Marble, Safari Mermer, Skymar Mermer, Stone Garden, Stonetech Mermer, Taş Zamanı, Turkmar, Uğur Mermer, Win Stones Mermer.

Bronze Category
Abdulrahim Enavi, Aftile Marble, Aksel Mermer, Aram Marble Doğal Taş, Ark Doğaltaş, Balmahmut Mermer, City Stone Mermer, Çıldır Madencilik, Daymar Stone, Efal Maden, Er-Nak Mermer, Erol Stone, GM Stone Mermer, Kaymer Doğal Taş, Lune Stones, Mabella Marble, Maltaş Maden, Marblest Madencilik, Mars Mermer, Masstone, Ortadoğu Stone, Reisoğlu Mermer, SFR Mermer, SLD Art Maden, Sonnenflex Schleifmittel, Stone Source, Süleyman Demirel Hacı Ahmet Demirel Oğulları İthalat İhracat, Three Stars, Tırmar Maden, Turan Bekişoğlu Mermer, Venti Marble and Yurtmar International.