5.5% export loss in 2019 for the Turkish textile industry. The Turkish textile industry, which increased its exports by 4% in 2018, had a negative outlook in 2019. According to the export data released by İTKİB, total exports of Turkish textile and raw materials industry in 2019 decreased by 5.5% compared to the previous year and decreased to 9.9 billion USD. In 2019, the total exports from Turkey increased by 2% to 180.4 billion USD in value. The share of textile and raw material exports in total exports decreased from 5.9% to 5.5%.
In 2019, the main export market of the Turkish textile and raw materials industry was 28 EU countries. Despite the 8.2% decrease, the share of textile exports to these markets was 49.9%. Exports to the former Eastern Bloc Countries increased by 5.9% to 10.5%. African countries ranked third among the biggest export markets. Exports to these countries decreased by 1.7%, while the revenue generated was 1 billion USD. The region with the highest increase in exports during the year was the Turkic Republics. Textile exports to these markets increased by 10.4% to 303 million USD.
Germany maintains its position as the largest textile export market
When the most important markets are analysed by countries, it is seen that Germany, Italy and the USA are in the first place. During the year, exports of textiles and raw materials to Germany decreased by 2% to 856 million USD. In textile exports, Italy was second with a decrease of 8.5% to 796 million USD, while the US was third with a 3.2% decrease and 582 million USD value, exports to the UK, which ranked fourth, increased by 3.3% to 463 million USD, while exports to Bulgaria, which ranked fifth, decreased by 21.7% to 421 million USD. With these figures, Bulgaria was the country with the highest decrease in textile exports.
5.5% export loss in 2019 for the Turkish textile industry: textile exports increased by 1.2% in terms of quantity
Exports of Turkish textile and raw materials industry increased by 1.2% in terms of quantity and reached 2.3 million tons. In December alone, exports increased by 0.3%. The highest amount of exports was made to Italy. The amount of textile exported to this country increased by 1% to 176 thousand tons. The amount of textile exported to Germany increased by 5% to 155 thousand tons. The highest increase in exports was to the Iranian market with 10.2%.
Woven fabric became the most important product group in export
It is seen that woven fabrics are the most important product group of textile and raw materials export in the total of 12 months of 2019. Exports of woven fabrics, which account for 23.5% of textile and raw materials exports, decreased by 6.6% compared to the previous year and amounted to 2.3 billion USD. The second group was yarn with 18.2% share.
In January-December 2019, yarn exports decreased by 6.1% and reached 1.8 billion USD. The third most important export product, which constitutes 15.9% of the sector’s exports, was home textiles included in the textile sector. Exports of this group increased by 1.8% to 132 million USD. Fiber exports of the industry decreased by 13.7% and reached 638 million USD. The share of fiber in total textile exports decreased from 13.7% to 6.4%.
5.5% export loss in 2019 for the Turkish textile industry: denim fabric was the main product of special yarn and fabric export
In the context of sub-product groups, exports of special yarns and fabrics declined by 9.8% to 602 million USD. The most important product in this category was denim fabric. Denim fabric exports decreased by 11.5% in January-December 2019 and reached 302 million USD. Denim fabric exports increased by 23.7% in December.
The second major product group of special yarn and fabric exports was the velvet plush and chenille fabric group, which decreased by 5% and was worth 169 million USD. In 2019, quilted textiles were the product group that achieved the highest increase in special yarn and fabric exports. 43.9% increase in exports of these products was determined.
In 2019, exports of home textiles decreased by 14.2% to 409 million USD. Drapery was the most important export item in this product group. Drapery exports decreased by 14.8% to 287 million USD. Upholstery fabrics were the second most important product group with 106 million USD export revenue.
On the other hand, the home textile exports of the Turkish textile industry decreased by 0.9% in 2019 and amounted to approximately 1.9 billion USD. Exports of towels and cleaning cloths, the most important product group in home textile exports with a share of 32.5%, decreased by 6.1% to 606 million USD.
The technical textile exports to Turkey also has achieved a 1.4% decrease in the value of 1.7 billion USD. The most important product group in the export of technical textiles was nonwoven products. Nonwoven exports decreased by 0.3% to 590 million USD.
According to the Republic of Turkey Central Bank data, the average capacity utilization rate in manufacturing industry in 2019 was estimated worth of 75.9. In December 2019, the production capacity of textile products increased by 4% compared to the previous month and was evaluated as 79.8.