Turkish upholstery mills are moving towards backcoated products with a polyolefin and polyester chenilles face to combat American mills like Culp, said Akin Eraydin, a veteran upholstery producer. "The ability of the U.S. mill to produce a lightly constructed upholstery fabric with heavy backcoating to strengthen the face has had a major impact on the Turkish market," he said.

Furniture manufacturers like Istikbal and Yatas are buying the Culp backcoated products, he said.

While Eraydin specializes in cotton yarn export sales, he also represents Pektas, a three-year-old Turkish upholstery mill in Corlu with 16 looms. In spite of the previous financial and market difficulties faced by Turkey, Pektas sees upholstery as a major opportunity. The company makes jacquard upholstery in 100 percent cotton and nylon. Through Eraydin, Pektas is supplying product to the English market to half a dozen customers, including DFS, a furniture producer.

The U.K. agent is Henry Wilkes. "Without local agents, a mill cannot export successfully. That's why we're looking for other agents to represent Pektas in Europe.