Syrians settling in Turkey fueling home appliance, furniture sectors

DHA photo

Syrian migrants in Turkey have begun establishing homes in Turkey, helping the home appliance sector to flourish during a downturn that traditionally accompanies an election period, said the head of a sector association. 

"Turkey has been in an election period for the last two years. This has pushed Turkish people to revise their shopping tendencies so as not to purchase anything non-urgent. Syrian migrants are now fueling the sector," said the president of the Durable Goods and Home Appliances Retailers Association (BEYPER), ?ahin Mersin. 

According to some sources, there are around 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Even if 10 percent of them ultimately decide to stay, 200,000 new consumers would enter the market, according to figures. 

According to data from the Home Appliances Industrialists' Association (TÜRKBESD), the sales of home appliances increased by 10 percent in the first half of the year to 3.29 million units compared to the same period of the previous year. 

Noting that sales had particularly increased in the border provinces and big cities like Istanbul, Mersin said, "Our members in the southern provinces of Gaziantep and Adana said the largest sales are made to Syrians."

Many Syrians with monetary worries purchase second-hand appliances, Mersin said. "We have thus seen an increase in the number of Turkish people who sell their appliances to Syrians and renew their possessions."

According to Mersin, the same trend has also been seen in other sectors, including the furniture, home textiles and electronic goods sectors. 

Investment Financing Research Manager Zümrüt Can Ambarc? told Reuters that the rise in the demand could not be explained by any factors other than Syrians' needs, although...

Continue reading on: