Economic Position of the Province
The industries of Kütahya have long traditions, going back to ancient times. Kütahya’s economy generally depends on agriculture and stockbreeding. In addition, the province is famous for its kiln products, such as tiles and pottery, which are glazed and multicoloured. Also mining industry is important especially in Tavşanlı and Emet districts.
Agriculture and Stockbreeding
Kütahya has a significant agricultural potential. Agricultural production is maintained on a total area of 409.488 hectares constituting 34% of the province grounds. 612.592 hectares of the remaining lands are forests, 88.209 hectares are meadows-pastures, and 77.211 hectares are non-agricultural lands.
Within the agricultural sector, cereals production is the leading sub-sectors. However, in some parts of the province have a significant agricultural potential enabling the region available for cultivating vegetable and fruit with its rich soil and water resources. Moreover, one of the most important richness of Kütahya is its forests.
Stockbreeding is another leading sector in Kütahya. For this reason, our province has engaged in a great step forwards in stockbreeding sector. Also, it has become an important center for chicken farming.
Natural Resources
Our province is not only rich in terms of natural resources such as mines, but it is also rich in terms of their reserves. Thus Kütahya is one of the leading cities in Turkey which has rich mine beds and reserves.
According to the studies of General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, some of the important minerals which are found in our province are as follow:
Metallic Minerals:
500 thousand tones of antimonite,
15 million tones of iron,
21 million tones of silver,
95 thousand tones of lead-copper-zinc.
Industrial Raw Materials:
70 million tones of allanite,
350 million tones of boron,
35 million tones of feldspar,
1.5 million tones of porcelain clay,
35 million tones of meerschaum.
Energy Raw Materials:
525 million tones of lignite.
In addition to these minerals and materials, there are also marble, graphite, colemanite, dolomite, and chromium beds found in Kütahya.
Geothermal Energy Sources
Kütahya is one of the richest cities in Turkey in terms of geothermal sources. These sources have quite high thermal value and are important for tourism, heating, and greenhouses. Kütahya is the only province that has 5 Thermal Tourism Centers. Those are;
-Kütahya-Ilıca Thermal Spas,
-Gediz-Ilıcasu Thermal Spas,
-Gediz-Muratdağı Thermal Spas,
-Emet-Yeşil and Kaynarca Thermal Spas,
-Simav-Eynal Thermal Spas.
Besides these spas, there are a lot of thermal spas in Kutahya. Some of them are Yoncalı, Tavşanlı-Göbel, Simav-Naşa, Simav-Çiftgöl, Emet-Dereli, Hisarcık-Hamamköy,, and so on.
The Situation of Industry
The industrialization of Kütahya has begun during 1950s. There are both state enterprises and private enterprises are found in Kütahya. The city has 2 industrial zones. State-owned Industrial institutions are TEAŞ-Seyitomer thermal power plant, TEAŞ-Tunçbilek thermal power plant, The General Directorate of Turkish Coal-The enterprise of West Lignite (GLI), The General Directorate of Turkish Coal- The enterprise of Seyitömer Lignite (SLI), and the Enterprise of Eti-Boron.
As for private-owned enterprises, manufacturing sector is generally depends on mining, forest and sand which are main characteristics of this sector in our province. There are porcelain, floor tiles and tile factories that are symbol of Kütahya. Furthermore, there are enterprises which are produce glass, textile, woodwork such as lumber for construction and furniture.
The statistics of the Turkish Statistical Institute display that 66% of the population who are at the age of 12 and over are economically active population while the rest are inactive population. The population between the ages 12 and over that works has worked in agriculture, 7% in industry, 5% in mining, 4% in trade, 3% in construction, 3 % in transportation, and 12 % in service sector.
Import and Export
The exports of Kütahya were $92.5 million, while the imports of the province were $65 million. The main exports items are porcelain, ceramic, floor tile, glass, marble, meerschaum, refractory brick, metal goods, package, woodwork, and cord. The basic import items are kaolin, sodium cyanide, graphite, meerschaum, dye, cotton, metallic goods, and chemical substance which are used in industry.
