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In Türkiye’s marble capital Afyonkarahisar, Marble Systems Tureks, the country’s only publicly-listed marble company, is experiencing a period of strong export performance. Speaking to a group of journalists, Osman Cavit Turunc, vice chairman of the board, said that the company is riding a wave of international demand, especially from the United States.
“U.S. tariffs on Chinese products, including the marble industry, are resulting in U.S.-based customers' search for new markets,” Turunc said. While this was only one of the factors that led to the increase in exports recently, the company's robust marketing campaign and positive reputation in the U.S. are the real reasons that drove the demand for the company.
Speaking about Tureks' IPO in 2023, Osman Cavit Turunc said that nearly 70 percent of the income from the IPO was spent on investments — a figure rarely seen in the Turkish business world.
The U.S. remains Tureks’s largest market, and the company has been quick to capitalize on the resulting market gap. With nearly 1,000 dealers, seven warehouses, and 12 showrooms across the U.S., Tureks has built a vibrant sales and distribution network that few local competitors can match.
In 2024, the company increased its revenue by 4.66% in dollar terms, reaching $72.96 million. Nearly 95% of its revenue came from exports to over 50 countries, while only 5% came from the domestic market.
In Turkish lira, the company posted a 44.47% increase in revenue, reaching ₺2.39 billion ($60.23 million). Its EBITDA margin stood at 11.25%, with a net profit margin of 4.72%. Tureks also reported 7.06% growth in foreign-currency revenue in the first quarter of 2025, according to information provided by the company.
Founded in 1982 by Mehmet Munir Turunc in the U.S., the company’s roots trace back to a vision from his father, Ismail Unal Turunc, who believed in the global value of Turkish marble. Since then, the company has grown into an industry pioneer, operating 10 quarries across Türkiye and producing more than 1 million square meters of natural stone annually with its U.S. and Türkiye operations combined.
Tureks’ international strategy has recently expanded beyond the U.S. market. In Europe, the company completed a logistics hub in Verona, Italy, aiming to replicate its American distribution success. In the Gulf, it launched a new dealership in Dubai in partnership with GM Stone, signaling a deeper commitment to the $2.4 trillion Gulf market.
The company is also known for innovation in design and processing. Tureks, credited with popularizing travertine in interior design, holds patents on surface finishing techniques that expand the usability of natural stones. Its sustainability efforts are equally prominent: two solar power plants in Afyon now supply all the company’s energy needs, and an automated packaging system helps minimize waste.
Listed on Borsa Istanbul since November 2023 with 25.8% of its shares publicly traded, Tureks became the first Turkish marble company to go public. Some of the IPO proceeds were directed toward digital transformation and efficiency upgrades, including its early adoption of SAP software in the natural stone sector.
From luxury hotel projects in New York and Las Vegas to cultural landmarks in Kuwait and Puerto Rico, Tureks has left its mark across the globe. Now, with growing exports, new markets, and a sustainability-focused production model, the company says it is well-positioned to shape the future of Türkiye’s marble industry.
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