The Turkish textile industry is witnessing a notable shift in its export dynamics, with significant increases in exports to the Asian, American, and Middle Eastern markets, according to the latest data released by the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ITHIB).
Decline in Overall Exports
The ‘Textile and Raw Materials Sector 2024 April Export Performance’ report reveals a mixed picture for the industry. While there has been an uptick in certain regions, the overall export figures for textiles and apparel have declined compared to the previous year. In April 2024, apparel and garment exports fell by 19% year-over-year to $1.1 billion, and for the January-April period, they dropped by 14.6% to $5 billion. The textile and raw materials sector saw an 8% decline in April, amounting to $845 million, and a 3.6% decrease in the January-April period to $3.8 billion.
Regional Performance
Despite the overall decline, exports to the Asian continent surged by 15% in the first four months of 2024. The European Union (EU) remains the top destination for Turkish textiles, accounting for 41% of the exports, though exports to the EU decreased by 9.8% in April and 4.7% for the January-April period, totaling $1.55 billion.
Other key regions for Turkish textile exports include Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, other European countries, and the Turkish Republics. The most notable increase in exports was to Asia, while exports to the Turkish Republics experienced the largest decline, dropping by 12%.
Country-Specific Data
On a country basis, Italy was the leading importer of Turkish textiles, despite an 8% decrease, with exports totaling $289 million from January to April 2024. Germany followed with a 14% decrease at $236 million. Conversely, the USA showed a 10% increase, reaching $233 million. In terms of volume, Turkey exported 69,000 tons to Italy, 48,000 tons to the USA, and 46,000 tons to Germany during this period.
Product Group Insights
The report also highlights the performance of specific product groups. Woven fabric exports decreased by 6% to $776 million, with Spain being the largest market, showing a 38% increase. Technical textile exports saw a 2% decline to $728 million, with Germany leading the imports. Notably, technical textile exports to Israel skyrocketed by 171% in April, reaching $9.4 million. Yarn exports grew by 3% to $717 million, with Portugal showing the highest increase at 123%.
Capacity Utilization and Employment
The industry saw a positive trend in capacity utilization rates, which increased by 8% in the textile sector and 2% in the manufacturing sector over the past year. Employment in the textile and apparel sectors, which had been declining, began to recover in March 2024. The number of employees rose from 1.015 million in February to 1.101 million in March.
The Turkish textile industry continues to adapt to changing market dynamics, with promising growth in new regions despite overall challenges. The increase in capacity utilization and employment rates further indicates a potential rebound in the coming months.
