The textile and clothing industry is one of the engines of the Turkish economy, with combined exports together accounting for 17.9% of the country’s total exports in 2009. Clothing industry shipments were worth US$12.9bn in 2009. Turkey is also ranked the 7th largest of the world’s 70 cotton growing countries, with a capacity of 370,000 tons of annual production.
According to WTO statistics, in 2008 the Turkish clothing industry was ranked fourth in world trade, with a share of 3.8%. It was also ranked the second biggest supplier to the EU, with a share of 12.1%. The EU countries (EU-27) account for nearly 80% of Turkey’s textile and clothing exports.
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- Total exports of textiles and apparel:
2008: US$18.3bn
2009: US$21.87bn
- Total number of garment factories: There are 11,000 clothing manufacturers producing for export.
- Location of garment factories: Istanbul, Bursa, Tekirdag, Corlu, Izmir and Gaziantep are the main provinces in terms of capacity and export value.
- Main apparel products: Knitted apparel products account for 54% of Turkey’s total clothing exports, with woven clothing accounting for 33% and the remaining 13% by other ready-made products. Cotton knitted T-shirts, knitted pullovers, cardigans and vests and socks are the main knitted export items. Ladies’ woven outerwear, men’s outerwear, and ladies’ shirts and blouses are the main woven items.
- Production strengths:
Close to main markets, particularly European countries;
Short delivery time due to geographic proximity;
Quick response capability;
Liberal trade regime, including compliance with the EU’s technical regulations;
Customs union with the EU and free trade agreements with numerous countries;
The capacity to create fashion, design and innovation.
- Exports of apparel:
2008: US$15.2bn (year-on-year change -2.1%)
2009: US$12.9bn (year-on-year change -15.6%)
- Imports of apparel:
2008: US$2.1bn (year-on-year change +39.6%)
2009: US$2.0bn (year-on-year change -4.8%)
- Top 10 apparel export markets in 2009, by market share (and value):
Germany: 25.1% (US$3.2bn)
UK: 13.9% (US$1.8bn)
France: 7.9% (US$1.0bn)
Spain: 7.4% (US$954.3m)
Italy: 5.3% (US$675.5m)
Holland: 5.0% (US$642.1m)
Denmark: 3.1% (US$401.3m)
US: 2.7% (US$351.2m)
Belgium: 2.5% (US$318.0m)
Sweden: 2.1% (US$264.8m)
- Top 10 textile export markets in 2009, by market share (and value):
Russian Federation: 10.5% (US$563.0m)
Italy: 9.7% (US$519.9m)
Germany: 6.1% (US$328.3m)
Romania: 4.6% (US$247.5m)
Poland: 4.3% (US$231.8m)
Iran: 4.1% (US$222.7m)
Bulgaria: 3.8% (US$203.9m)
UK: 3.2% (US$174.4m)
Egypt: 2.9% (US$155.7m)
US: 2.9% (US$154.2m)
- Raw materials: Turkey is ranked the 7th largest cotton producer in the world with a capacity of 370,000 tons of annual production. It also produces man-made fibres.
- Textiles: Turkey has 3% of the world’s short staple spinning capacity; 5% of its long staple spinning capacity; 7.3% of open-end rotor capacity; 3.5% of the world’s shuttleless weaving looms; 1.9% of shuttle weaving looms; and 5.1% of the world’s wool weaving looms.
- Number and location of textile factories: There are nearly 7,500 textile manufacturers producing textiles for export. The production facilities are mainly located in Istanbul, Izmir, Denizli, Bursa, Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep.
- Main textile products: Cotton textile products such as cotton, fibre, yarn and woven fabrics constitute about 24% of total exports. The main export items are synthetic yarns from monofilaments, cotton woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, synthetic filament yarns, and woven pile fabrics like velvet.
- Exports of textiles and raw materials:
2008: US$6.6bn (year-on-year change +4.3%)
2009: US$5.4bn (year-on-year change -19.1%)
- Imports of textiles and raw materials:
2008: US$7.3bn (year-on-year change -9.2%)
2009: US$6.3bn (year-on-year change -13.8%)
Source: Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade; General Secretariat of ITKIB.
