Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Wood charcoal has a long history in Türkiye, shaping social and industrial dynamics from the Ottoman era until the present day. For instance, charcoal has served household, artisanal, and industrial needs; trade patterns have evolved with energy transitions and regional forest resources. The study brings together historical and contemporary perspectives on the production, use and trade in charcoal in Türkiye from 2010–2023, drawing on the literature and FAO data to provide a concise overview. It also discusses implications for policy and future research. It reviews more than 40 scholarly works, theses, books, and archival sources on charcoal production and charcoal use from Ottoman times to the present. It also offers a conceptual framing of charcoal practices during the Ottoman period and analyses FAO charcoal export/import data (2010–2023) to triangulate historical interpretations with statistics. Charcoal was central to energy for smelting, weapons production, minting, cooking, and heating, with major centres including Salonica, Edirne, Izmit, Teke, and Aydın. Forest resources and urban demand shaped a complex supply network. Ottoman charcoal production lagged behind Europe in transitioning to coal, and reported efficiency varied (estimated productivity debates around 17–20%, depending on archival sources). Charcoal making was labour-intensive, regionally varied, with kilns typically being earth-mound. Modern patterns rely on migrant labour in some provinces. In addition to angiosperm taxa such as oak, beech, hornbeam, chestnut, ash, elm, alder, strawberry tree, and birch, gymnosperm taxa such as spruce, fir, and pine are also used in charcoal production. Türkiye is primarily a net importer of charcoal (2010–2023), with imports exceeding exports; however, the gap narrowed in recent years (2019–2023). The recreational use and expanding industrial applications of charcoal are driving growing demand in cooking, heating, and leisure contexts. There is substantial untapped potential in Türkiye’s forest and waste woody biomass to produce cleaner, value-added charcoal that reduces both costs and the environmental impact. Policies should promote sustainable forest management, regional deployment of efficient production technologies, and support for local charcoal supply chains. Future work should evaluate environmental costs of intensified charcoal use and explore cleaner production technologies and lifecycle trade-offs.