Despite rising costs, labor shortages, and declining profits in 2024, Türkiye’s textile sector remains a cornerstone of the country’s economy, according to Fikret Kileci, Chairman of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) Textile and Raw Materials Sector Board.
The industry has been experiencing a sharp decline in exports, sparking debates within the business community on whether Türkiye should shift focus away from traditional sectors like textiles. However, Kileci remains optimistic about the industry’s resilience.
“The world’s leading brands manufacture in Türkiye. Players may change, but Türkiye’s position in the textile industry remains unchanged,” he stated, emphasizing the country’s strong global reputation in textile production. He added that the sector must evolve by focusing on value-added production and collaborating with other countries on labor-intensive processes.
A Sector Too Important to Abandon
Kileci highlighted the broader impact of textiles, noting that ready-to-wear clothing, carpets, and leather industries collectively represent the second-largest share of Türkiye’s total exports. He stressed that abandoning textiles is not an option, given the industry’s deep-rooted expertise and significant investments.
“These four sectors once reached an export volume of $35 billion, but recent declines have brought it down to $31-$32 billion. However, this trend is not unique to Türkiye,” he explained. “The global textile industry has contracted by 11%-12%, whereas Türkiye has seen a lower decline of 7%-8% due to shifting consumer habits.”
The Need for Transformation
To maintain competitiveness, Kileci called for a cost-benefit analysis and a long-term transformation strategy. He emphasized that adapting to labor costs and evolving market conditions requires cooperation between producers, industrialists, exporters, and government stakeholders.
“This transformation cannot be achieved by businesses alone. We need a structured strategy, supported by government initiatives and projects, to sustain and strengthen Türkiye’s textile industry in the years ahead,” he concluded.
