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The 39th International Woodworking Machinery, Cutting Tools and Hand Tools Fair (WoodTech 2026) has opened its doors in Istanbul, bringing together manufacturers and buyers from the woodworking machinery and production technologies sector. Organized by Reed Tüyap Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Woodworking Machinery Industrialists Association (AİMSAD), and supported by the Trade Ministry and the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS), the fair is hosting visitors at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center until October 25.

More than 300 companies are taking part and over 3,000 machines are on show across wide exhibition areas. RX Tüyap General Manager Berkan Öner said the event is expected to draw close to 20,000 visitors and to generate business activity worth roughly a third of the sector's total trade volume.

Exports and market pressures

Arif Onur Kaçak, board member and secretary general of AİMSAD, said the sector exported 145 million dollars worth of woodworking machinery in 2025. "We have close to 80 million dollars of exports in the first eight months of this year. We think this figure will reach 120 to 130 million dollars by the end of the year. On the production side, we have a production volume of about 400 million dollars. The total volume of our sector is approaching 600 million dollars," Kaçak said.

Kaçak said the biggest problem Turkish woodworking machinery producers face in international competition stems from wars in nearby geographies, which have shrunk their markets in some countries. Kaçak added that the industry produces proven, quality machinery and that Turkey ranks among the leaders in the Asian market, expressing confidence that setbacks during periods of crisis would be overcome and previous momentum restored.

In the first quarter of the year, Bulgaria, Poland and Spain stood out in Turkey's woodworking machinery exports, and the fair aims to bring professional buyers from strategic markets including Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus and Central Asia to Istanbul. Kaçak said investments in automation, digitalization and green transformation are raising the sector's competitiveness. "One of our biggest goals is not to fall behind our EU or other European competitors because of regulatory changes. We do this job very well and adapt quickly," Kaçak said, adding that machines must be made more resilient and closed to cyber attacks as technology and products change.

Key takeaways

• WoodTech 2026 runs at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul until October 25, with more than 300 participating firms and over 3,000 machines on display.
• RX Tüyap General Manager Berkan Öner expects close to 20,000 visitors and business activity worth about a third of the sector's total trade volume.
• AİMSAD's Arif Onur Kaçak put 2025 sector exports at 145 million dollars and forecast 120 to 130 million dollars for this year after nearly 80 million dollars in the first eight months.
• Wars in nearby geographies have shrunk some export markets, while automation, digitalization and green transformation are supporting competitiveness.