UAE and Swiss Demand Spark Turkiye’s Jewelry Export Surge

Gems News: New Highs for A Glittering Trade

Türkiye’s jewelry exporters have begun 2026 with a gleam in their eye after clocking a record 7.9 billion dollars in overseas sales in 2025. The jump notched a 5.8 percent gain over 2024 and lifted the sector’s share to 3.3 percent of national exports, according to official trade data. That performance caps a remarkable rise from pandemic lows.

UAE and Swiss appetite propel Turkish jewelry exports to new heights

Image Credit: StockShots

In 2020, when global markets seized up, jewelry sales abroad totaled just 3.8 billion dollars. Since then, factories, refiners, and ateliers have steadily scaled up production and marketing, more than doubling turnover and establishing a stronger global brand identity. This Gems News report indicates how demand has both broadened and shifted across continents.

UAE Stays Dominant as Swiss Demand Explodes

At the top of the customer list stands the UAE, once again Türkiye’s biggest buyer. Shipments to the Gulf hub reached around 2.86 billion dollars, roughly 10 percent higher than the previous year. The UAE’s role as a trading and reexport powerhouse—combined with its vibrant retail gold market—keeps it tightly linked to Turkish suppliers.

Close behind, Hong Kong strengthened its foothold with imports of 609.1 million dollars, up 11.5 percent. But the headline-grabbing number came from Swiss buyers. Jewelry shipments to Switzerland rocketed to 416.2 million dollars, a staggering 353 percent jump year on year, reflecting rising demand from watchmakers, luxury houses, and bullion-linked manufacturers.

Winners And Losers Across Markets

The gains were not universal. Purchases by the United States fell sharply to 409.8 million dollars, down 41.8 percent, as retailers wound down inventories and shoppers shifted to lower-cost accessories. In contrast, Libya advanced into fifth place with 356.2 million dollars, up 13.3 percent, while Mexico posted a slim 0.4 percent lift to 308.4 million dollars.

Pullbacks hit Kyrgyzstan, where orders slipped 16.3 percent, and Iraq, whose volumes dropped by almost half. Italy also logged a mild 1.8 percent retreat. A notable bright spot was Belgium, where demand leaped 71.5 percent to 212.6 million dollars, fueled by Antwerp-linked trading networks.

A sparkling array of intricate gold pieces fills a display case inside a jewelry shop at Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar in Türkiye.

Image Credit: StockShots

Istanbul Remains the Core

Inside Türkiye, Istanbul proved again that it is the country’s jewelry engine room. With 5.5 billion dollars in exports—about 70 percent of the total—the metropolis stands at the center of design, refining, and distribution. Its cluster of artisans, wholesalers, and global brokers has become indispensable for connecting Turkish supply with international buyers.

What The Numbers Signal

Analysts say the data confirms the jewelry sector is no longer a niche contributor but a durable export pillar. Powered by the UAE’s deep market, the Swiss surge, and steady Asian demand, Türkiye is increasingly viewed as a reliable crafts and gold processing partner. Even with occasional downturns in major markets such as the United States, long-term prospects appear robust as producers upgrade technology, nurture global retail ties, and court emerging customers. The year’s figures strongly hint that Türkiye’s jewelry ascent has more room to grow, with competition and innovation likely to push makers into new markets and higher-value product categories for years ahead.

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