In 2020, the textile industry in Turkey will become increasingly significant. Turkey is one of the world’s largest suppliers of textiles and garments and is the 6th largest supplier in the world and the 3rd largest supplier to the EU. In the European and North American textile trade, Turkey’s textile industry is of great importance. Due to the significant Turkish yarn labels, fabric manufacturers and organic cotton firms, the new manufacturing facilities in Turkey have demonstrated the substantial growth of the textile industry in recent years.
More than one million people are currently employed by the Turkish textile and ready-to-wear industry. A total of 1,67 million people are now employed by the textile industry and its supporting sub-sectors, and this figure will rise in the coming years due to additional investments and increased exports.
The industry had a 10.1 percent share of the country’s overall exports of $14.8 billion in January 2020, according to the Istanbul Garment Exporters Association (‘HK’B), hitting an export figure of $1.5 billion, up 5.8 percent in the same month last year. Almost 73.4% of exports went to EU countries, the main recipients being Germany and Spain.
Turkey is one of the manufacturing centers that is making the most of the coronavirus outbreak as it exposes itself to the Chinese market as an alternative development hub.
In January, according to the latest data from the Istanbul Garment Exporters Association (Ihkib), the country’s fashion exports reported an annual increase of 5.8 percent. Europe was Turkey’s largest customer in the first month of the year.
During the time, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom were the main importers of Turkish fashion items, and the Turkish textile industry experienced a rise in exports of 4.7 percent, 8.7 percent, and 3.9 percent, respectively, through purchases from Turkey. Among the leading importers of Turkish textiles are the Netherlands, France, the USA, Denmark, Iraq, and Poland.
In the meantime, the President of Ihkib, Mustafa Gultepe, said that the coronavirus would have a positive effect on the Turkish industry because the major fashion operators had relocated their goods to the country before the outbreak. Nevertheless, the decrease in the production of raw materials affected by the coronavirus in China also affects it.
The Turkish textile and clothing industry’s key advantages are:
• In textile manufacturing and the availability of raw materials, Turkey has many advantages based on the following points:
• The nation has a very strategic role in terms of logistics, as it is the gateway to the markets of European countries.
• The district is a source of raw materials used for processing. Turkey ranks 7th in cotton manufacturing worldwide.
• Turkish organic textile companies are also one of the most important suppliers of organic cotton on the global market.
• The country has a highly established industry capable of producing quality products and a highly skilled labor force.
• The country has an agreement with the EU on a customs union and free trade agreements with other nations.
• It is also understood that Turkey assigns importance and priority to the working conditions of its workers.
• Turkey aims to invest in improving its industry using advanced technologies.
• Turkish businesses have human resources that are professional and trained.
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