First-hand Insights into Türkiye’s Printing Consumables Market

RT VIP Imaging Expo—EMEA will be held on June 8 in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing top suppliers to meet high-quality buyers across the Europe, Africa, and Middle East regions. To better prepare for the upcoming event, the organizer conducted a field visit in Türkiye.

During the visit, the team met directly with key local buyers to better understand market demand, purchasing behavior, and distribution structures, while also discussing industry trends in office equipment and consumables,.

Increased Import Costs & Clear Seasonal Pattern

Ms. Gizem Ertugrul is from SARAL Bilgi Teknolojileri A.Ş. Based in Istanbul, her company specializes in the distribution and trade of office equipment, printing solutions, and related consumables. With a strong local network and international partnerships, it provides reliable and cost-effective products as well as supply chain support to customers in Türkiye and other regional markets.

Ms. ErtuÇrul shared that economic uncertainty and currency fluctuations have pushed import costs higher, making buyers more cautious in their purchasing decisions. However, she noted that in recent months the government has allocated special budgets for certain institutions, which has gradually driven the recovery of government and public sector procurement. This has brought early signs of market improvement and renewed purchasing activity.

She also explained that the Turkish printing consumables market follows a clear seasonal pattern. The peak season typically begins in September, driven by the back-to-school period, and continues until May or early June of the following year. As a result, June and July are critical months for local importers to plan procurement and place orders for the next sales cycle.

Trust First: What Turkish Buyers Look for in Suppliers

When asked what she values most in choosing suppliers, Ms. Gizem Ertugrul mentioned three key points: long-term relationships, stable quality, and fair pricing. She stressed that trust is especially important in Türkiye, and buyers prefer to work with suppliers they can rely on, almost like business partners and friends.

She said, “Relationships with manufacturers are extremely important to me. I have worked with many of my suppliers for a long time, and we support each other as much as we can. Of course, many factors matter, but trust always comes first. I need to know that if a problem happens, the manufacturer will stand by me, support me, and won’t disappear or run away.”

She added that stable quality is the second priority. The product does not have to be the best in the market, but quality must remain stable from order to order. Inconsistent quality can create serious risks for distributors and damage customer trust. Price is also an important factor, as she looks for the best quality at an acceptable price, rather than simply the lowest cost.

Technology Trends and Localization Challenges

In Türkiye, A4 multifunction printers (MFPs) are currently one of the most popular product categories and remain a key market demand. In comparison, A3 color printers still show growth potential, while demand for A3 monochrome machines is gradually declining.

Ms. Gizem Ertugrul mentioned that new products such as portable label printers and thermal printers are gaining attention in the market. Some of her company’s products are already in the sample testing stage, and market acceptance is gradually being confirmed. Regarding technology trends, she remains open to 3D printing, believing it is closely connected to the printing industry and has promising applications in areas such as education and architectural design.

In addition, Ms. ErtuÇrul also emphasized that brand awareness and localization are especially important in the Turkish market. Even strong brands still need to improve local recognition, and cooperation with local partners is essential to strengthen brand presence.

Turkey Stop – Time & Venue

Date: June 8

City: Istanbul, Turkey

Venue: The Marmara Taksim (Gumussuyu Mah. Tak-ı Zafer Cad. No:3 Taksim, Beyoglu 34437)

Join us in Istanbul and connect with leading manufacturers and industry partners to explore new opportunities in the global printing and imaging market.