#ITM 2013

2013-05-16

Country focus: Turkey

Turkey is one of the most important textile producing countries of the world and is considered to be the textile powerhouse in Europe as well as being sometimes described as the China of Europe which certainly refers to its relatively low wage costs for European standards and high economic growth over a number of years.

Turkey ranks number 4 in the 2011 WTO table of export statistics with a value of 10.8 bn USD for textiles and 13.9 bn USD for garments. The ranking remains unchanged compared to 2010, growth however amounted to 15% and was only just below the growth of 17% for all exports of textiles and garments. Ahead of Turkey in the ranking are India, the EU (27) and of course China, the absolute number one with 94.4 bn USD for textiles and 153.8 bn for garments. Turkey ranks just behind Italy when the EU is split up into its individual countries. According to Eurostat 3.9 bn USD of exports from Turkey went to the EU in 2011, garments amounted to 8.186 bn USD which represented about 59% of exports to the EU. Germany and Italy are the most important countries for exports to the EU. Textiles and garments combined form a 19% share of exports (2010) and represent the most important trade group for exports from Turkey (source Fischer Weltallmanach). Motor vehicles, iron and steel, electrical machinery and food products are further important export trade groups.

These figures show the great importance of the textile and garment industry for Turkey as well as on the other hand how important the sales market EU is. Turkey has been part of the European customs union since 1996 that led to the removal of customs duties and provided Turkey with a competitive advantage over other textile producing countries.

The EU has however progressively concluded agreements with other countries and reduced restrictions or abolished them completely, which is why the country on the Bosporus has been faced with ever growing competition from Asia in recent years.

Despite low unit labour costs the country cannot compete with the prices of cheap products from the Far East any longer. The advantages for Turkey are the relative close proximity to the European single market, automation already well advanced to a large part and flexibility in production batch sizes. According to the EU report ‘Worldwide Sourcing 2012’ presented by the French association ‘Fédération de la Maille et de la Lingerie’ in February 2013 at the Sourcing trade fair ‘Zoom by Fatex’, Bangladesch has been able to double its share of exports of textiles and garments to the EU in the past five years and was ahead of Turkey in 2012 (+9% compared to 2011) whose share was reported to have declined by 4%. It is therefore only a small consolation that India has declined by 19% and even China by 10% for the first time. Besides Bangladesh, the countries of Vietnam (+2%), Sri Lanka (+8 %) and Cambodia (+38 %) are the beneficiaries of the altogether lower imports to the EU. Another impending adversity is the re-orientation of the Chinese textile industry towards more quality, more sustainability in production and transformation to an automated high-tech industry.

Economic development in Turkey

Let us have a look at the development of the Turkish economy as a whole. (...)

Read the complete article in the last issue 2 / 2013 of the TexData Magazine. If you aren 't already a subscriber, please register here!

Subscribe now!

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.