Countdown for the 29th Marble İzmir

Countdown for the 29th Marble İzmir

This year, the 29th edition of Marble İzmir – the International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair – will be held from April 17 to 20, 2024, gathering the industry at Fuarizmir. As the gateway for Turkish natural stone to the world, Marble İzmir has allocated all halls and outdoor spaces to participants. Due to overwhelming demand from both domestic and international markets, all available spaces have been filled with no vacancies remaining. Spanning over 150,000 square meters of open and closed areas and hosting more than a thousand participants, Marble İzmir is set to welcome visitors from Türkiye and around the globe over four days.

A Global Gathering for the Natural Stone Industry

Hosted by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, Marble İzmir – the largest global meeting point for the natural stone sector – will continue to inspire hope in the industry with its substantial trade volume. While all natural stone companies will occupy the indoor halls at Fuarizmir, a large portion of Hall C and the entirety of Hall D have been reserved for machinery and technology firms. The block marble area will once again feature hundreds of blocks of natural stone in a variety of colors and types, just as it did last year.

Exhibits Limited to Natural Stone, Its Products, Machinery, and Technologies

This year at Marble İzmir, based on decisions taken in response to industry representatives’ requests, only natural stone and natural stone products along with machinery and technologies will be exhibited.

Since 1998, Marble İzmir has been a member of the International Association of Exhibitions (UFI) and plays a crucial role in boosting Turkish natural stone’s global market share and accessing new markets. In its inaugural year, Türkiye natural stone exports amounted to $77 million; over the years, with the fair’s contribution, exports have soared to the $2 billion level. The fair has grown the sector significantly, and over time, Marble İzmir has become the lifeline of natural stone exports. With Türkiye holding one-third of the world's natural stone reserves and being renowned for its rich variety of colors and patterns, natural stone exports have contributed approximately $20 billion to the Turkish economy over the past decade. In the first two months of this year, Türkiye’s natural stone exports increased by 5 percent compared to the previous year, reaching $274 million. The fair is expected to generate an even greater trade volume this year and help the natural stone sector reach new export targets. The strong interest and demand for the fair further reinforce the international standing of the natural stone industry and solidify Türkiye’s leadership in this field.

Nearly 100,000 Visitors Expected

Beginning with 47 domestic participants at Kültürpark and 4,719 visitors in its first year, Marble İzmir Fair last year expanded to 1,015 participants – 167 of whom were from abroad – and welcomed a total of 79,153 visitors, including 9,056 foreign visitors from 148 countries. This year, the fair is expected to host nearly 100,000 visitors from Türkiye and around the world.

Increased Trade Volume Through Buying Delegations

For Marble İzmir, collaborations have been established with trade attachés from the USA, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, with participants and visitors expected from every corner of the globe. Three distinct buying delegation programs will be organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade’s export support, the Ege Maden Exporters Association, Istanbul Mining and Metals Exporters Associations, and the Western Mediterranean Exporters Association. These programs will host hundreds of foreign customers from target countries including the United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Italy, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan. Additionally, B2B meeting programs during the fair will enable rapid and efficient interactions between participating companies and their customers. The fair’s website has already received application registrations from foreign visitors across 59 countries – spanning every continent from Australia to Italy and from the USA to China.

At Marble İzmir, participants will include those involved with natural stone and its products; mining consumables; factory and workshop supplies; mining machinery; industrial machines and heavy equipment; factory and workshop machinery; environmental protection, recycling, and recovery systems; industry associations; IT and software companies; logistics and transportation services; financing and credit services; public and official institutions; associations, unions, and NGOs; and media organizations. The visitor profile encompasses natural stone processing machinery and technology dealers and wholesalers from around the world, natural stone application specialists, construction and contracting companies, project management and consulting firms, building inspection companies, architectural offices, building supply stores, construction material wholesalers, retailers and distributors, construction machinery dealers and wholesalers, as well as mining and natural stone companies.

“Distinctive” Designs Come to Life at Marble İzmir

A natural stone design competition will also take place during the fair. This year marks the 6th edition of the International Distinctive Natural Stone Design Competition, where Marble İzmir brings together young designers and innovative companies from the sector. The competition aims to boost natural stone exports by creating high value-added products supported by design and architecture, showcasing the innovative face of Turkish natural stone in the market. Unique designs will be brought to life and displayed to visitors at Marble İzmir. This year, 1,265 projects created by young designer candidates from 20 countries using natural stone participated in the competition. Out of these, 34 projects that advanced to the finals based on jury evaluation will be implemented by the sector’s innovative companies, and the winners will be announced at the 29th Marble İzmir Fair.

Marble Prosperity in İzmir

Marble İzmir will not only contribute to the industry, related sectors, exports, and employment, but—as in previous years—it will also positively impact various areas of the city and national economy, from tourism and accommodation to transportation and the food and beverage sector. The influx of domestic and international participants and visitors for the fair will bring a touch of “Marble prosperity” to İzmir.

Marble Mobile App Provides Information and Convenience

The Marble İzmir mobile application, introduced last year, will once again serve as an informative guide this year. The app will provide essential information to anyone who has heard about Marble İzmir from around the world, wants to attend, make purchases, or stay updated on the products. Accessible on mobile phones and smart devices, the app offers complete information about Marble İzmir and the participating companies. Available for download on both the Apple Store and Google Play in Turkish and English, the application will enhance convenience for both participants and visitors.