TALK TURKEY: FCNews’ Matt Spieler returned from a trade mission to Turkey last month (his story starts on page 1) and he was impressed and excited by what he saw of the Turkish ceramic industry during the week-long junket. Sponsored by the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, the trip was designed to acquaint participants with Turkey’s growing ceramic industry and its plans to increase its global market share. And, like Spieler, I was most impressed by the statistics compiled by this quiet and relatively unheralded ceramic producer. It has taken a while for Turkish manufacturers to decide to play on the world stage; they say the country’s ceramic industry goes back 7,000 years. So, one thing we know for sure: they have experience.

MORE STATS: At present, there are 24 ceramic tile manufacturers in Turkey and they export to more than 100 countries on five continents. The top five countries importing their products are the United Kingdom, Israel, the United States, Canada and Germany—and they are working on making the U.S. No. 1. Turkey is the fifth largest producer of ceramic tile, behind Italy, Spain, China and Brazil. In 2006, Turkey’s ceramic tile export business will exceed 100 million square meters. It’s targeting the U.S. in its growth pattern because exports to this country have increased 12-fold in the past 10 years and now account for 13% of its exports. There’s little doubt they’re ready to talk Turkey.

SEARCH: On the subject, the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) is calling for entries in the 5th Tile of Spain Awards of Architecture and Interior Design. The awards recognize unique and outstanding projects using ceramic tiles from Spain. Prizes total 45,000 Euros; 18,000 each for the architecture and interior design categories and 9,000 for the Degree Projects (student class). The competition is open to professional architects, interior designers, architectural engineers, landscapers and decorators of all nationalities. Entries may represent new construction, renovation and restoration projects, urban development endeavors or exterior landscaping. Winners will be announced at Cevisama 2007 in Valencia, Spain. Interested? Call Tile of Spain at 305/446-4387 or visit spaintiles.info.

GOING UP: Citing the dramatic rise in energy costs over the past two years and increases in raw material costs, Congoleum has announced it is raising prices on all products 2%, with the exception of commercial tile. Dennis Jarosz, Congoleum’s vice president of sales and marketing, noted “The price of natural gas has risen a staggering 122% over the past two years… and electricity has continued to rise.” He explained that the price increase will be effective Sept. 1 and “orders received by Friday, Aug. 18, calling for immediate delivery will be billed at current pricing, irrespective of our ability to ship prior to Sept. 1…orders placed after Aug. 18 will be billed at current pricing if we are able to ship prior to Sept. 1.” Now, who’s next?

HERE’S A HINT: PTT Poly Canada has announced it is raising the price of PTT polymer (polytrimethylene terephthalate) by 6 cpp in North America, effective Aug. 1. The Montreal-based company said, “The increase is due to continued escalation in the cost of raw materials, energy and transportation.” PTT polymer is marketed globally under the trade name Corterra Polymers and is used in carpet and textiles. I know this is a price increase, but I can’t seem to quantify the value. Oh, wait a minute, it’s 6 cpp.