Textile exports increased by 14.7% in October, growth continues. The Turkish textile and raw materials industry managed to maintain the increase in exports as of October after the new pandemic. In October 2020, the textile industry’s exports increased by 14.7% compared to the same month of the previous year and by 9% compared to September 2020, reaching a value of 1 billion USD. Based on the January-October period of 2020, it is seen that the exports of the sector decreased by 6.9% and reached a value of 7.7 billion USD. Turkey’s overall exports increased by 5.6% in October, and was valued at 17.3 billion USD. Accordingly, the share of the textile industry in overall exports was 5.9% in October.
EU remains the largest export market
In October, the highest export market for textiles and raw materials was, as always, the group of 28 EU countries. Compared to October 2019, textile exports to these countries increased by 18.7% and reached a value of 525 million USD. On the basis of January-October 2020, it was determined that exports were worth 4 billion USD with a 5% decrease.
Exports to the Former Eastern Bloc Countries, which are the second largest market, increased by 0.4% in the first 10 months of the year and reached 863 million USD. Exports to these countries increased by 17.2% on the basis of October alone and reached 860 million USD.
The country groups with the highest increase in exports in the first 10 months of the year were other non-EU European Countries and Turkic Republics. Exports to other European countries increased by 21.5% to 74 million compared to last year, while exports to the Turkic Republics increase by 1.9% to 257 million USD. In January – October period, there were export losses in African countries, Middle East countries, Asian and Oceania countries, American countries and free zones.
Looking at the exports of the textile and raw materials industry by country, Germany continued to be the largest market with a share of 9.5%. Exports to this country increased by 16.2% in October and by 4.8% in the January-October period. Germany was followed by Italy with 7.8%, USA with 6.5%, England with 5% and Bulgaria with 3.8%.
The amount of textile exported increased in October
Exported textiles and raw materials decreased by 4.3% in the January-October period of 2020 and remained at 1.9 million tons. On the other hand, considering only October, the amount of textile exported increased by 15.3% compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the countries where the most textile and raw materials are exported, Italy ranked first with a share of 7.7%. While 144 thousand tons of textile was exported to Italy in the first 10 months of the year, this figure shows a decrease of 4.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. Germany, USA, England and Iran followed this country.
Woven fabrics, the most important export product group with a share of 19.8% in the Turkish textile and raw materials sector, decreased by 2.1% in October and reached 205 million USD. The export performance of this product group in January-October decreased by 21.6% and reached 1.5 billion USD.
Technical textiles exports ranked second
Technical textiles exports, which ranked second in textile exports with a share of 17.2%; increased by 18.1% in October and reached a value of 152 million USD. Due to the increase in demand caused by the pandemic; exports of technical textiles increased by 5.1% in the January-October period; reaching a value of 1.3 billion USD. Within the technical textiles product group, technical materials for ready-to-wear garments had a share of 32.7%, nonwoven products 26.2%, and bags and sacks for packaging made of technical textiles had 12.7%.
While the exports of the yarn product group, which ranked third in exports; decreased by 19% in the January-October period, it increased by 4.4% on October basis. In October, the yarn exports created a value of 171 million USD. Fiber exports decreased by 7.7% in the January – October period to 486 million USD; and reached 67 million USD with an increase of 26% based on October alone.
Knitted fabric exports decreased by 7.5% in the January – October period of 2020, amounting to 1.2 billion USD. On October basis, these exports increased by 22.1%. In the January – October period, exports of special yarn and fabric decreased by 17.7% to 408 million USD; while this export increased by 9.6% to 63 million USD on October basis.
Manufacturing rate of textile products in October stood at 76.4%
Exports of home textile fabrics declined by 13.3% to 295 million USD in the first 10 months of the year; while October recorded a value of 43 million USD with an increase of 17.3%. Home textile exports decreased by 4.8% to 1 billion 457 million USD in the January – October period; while it increased by 16.4% to 201 million USD in October.
Apparel sub-industry exports decreased by 7.3% in the January – October period of 2020 to 199 million USD. Exports of these products in October increased by 10.8% to 26 million USD.
According to the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey data; manufacturing rate of textile products in October stood at 76.4%. This figure means an increase of 2.6% according to September 2020 data and a decrease of 2.8%; compared to the same month of the previous year.