Japan’s love of Turkish hand-made carpets on rise

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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The export of hand-made Turkish carpets to Japan soared 38 percent in the first six month of the year, reviving after a year of contraction due to the East Asian giant’s tsunami disaster in 2011.

Hand-made carpet exports from Turkey to Japan have reached $13.9 million following a 38 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the Istanbul Textile and Garment Exporters Union.

Japan’s share among overall hand-made carpet exports rose to 22 percent from last year’s 15 percent, making the country top receiver of the goods.

The remarkable surge in the six-month period is mainly attributable to the recovery in exports between 2011 and 2012.

“Particularly after the tsunami disaster in the country [Japan], a contraction in demand was seen and as a result of this, hand-made carpet export there decreased 18 percent,” Istanbul Carpet Exporters Union (İHİB) Chairman İbrahim Yılmaz said.

The boom in this year’s demand stems from economic expansion, according to Yılmaz, who said the country has always been a great market with potential.