Business · Trade · 5 hrs ago
Turkey’s garment sector sees a pause, not a recovery, industry leaders say
At a garment industry conference in Istanbul, Turkish industry leaders said the sector is stabilizing, not recovering.
They said demand weakened amid geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices.
From January to July, garment imports fell 4.9% in the European Union and 8.2% in the United States, while Turkey’s losses were 1.5%.
Turkey’s exports to North America rose 4.6%, and industry employment has started to increase, while insolvency protection applications fell 28%.
But producers have lost profitability, and the industry’s unit prices have risen 13% since 2022 without increasing added value.
Leaders say government support is needed to make the balance last, including a period of stabilization support and a more measurable system of incentives.
Turkey’s trade ministry said garment exports fell about 2.5% and called for more investment in design, technology, branding and sustainability.
Turkey’s garment industry is experiencing a pause rather than a recovery, industry leaders said at the 19th Istanbul Apparel Conference.
Toygar Narbay said exports and employment showed some improvement, but the sector’s difficulties remained.
Turkey’s apparel exports fell about 2.5%, while apparel imports into the European Union and the United States declined more sharply.
Narbay called for stabilization support and said the sector’s current balance could not be considered lasting until conditions improved.
Trade Ministry official Mehmet Ali Kılıçkaya said the industry should invest more in design, technology, branding and sustainability.
- Who
- Turkey’s garment industry, represented by industry leaders including Toygar Narbay, and Trade Ministry official Mehmet Ali Kılıçkaya.
- What
- Industry leaders said the sector was at a pause, not in recovery, and called for support and investment to strengthen competitiveness.
- When
- The remarks were made at the 19th Istanbul Apparel Conference in 2026; the source article was published on October 13.
- Where
- Istanbul, Turkey.
- Why
- The industry faces weaker markets, rising energy prices and pressure on competitiveness; Narbay said stabilization support was needed to make the current balance lasting.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The 19th Istanbul Apparel Conference opened under the theme “Redefined Value: Made in Türkiye.
EU apparel imports fell 4.9% and US apparel imports fell 8.2%, while Turkey’s losses were 1.5%, Narbay said.
Turkey’s total goods exports rose 5.2% year on year to $211 billion, Kılıçkaya said.
Employment in the sector began to rise again, Narbay said.
- Conference
- 19th Istanbul Apparel Conference
- Turkey apparel exports
- $12.4 billion
- Turkey textiles and raw materials exports
- $7.2 billion
- Turkey total goods exports
- $211 billion in January-September; up 5.2% year on year
- EU apparel imports
- Down 4.9% in January-July
- US apparel imports
- Down 8.2% in January-July
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What people are saying
But this is not a recovery, it is a pause.
Without the ground improving and the stabilization-period support requested by TGSD being fully provided, we cannot say this balance is permanent.
Nearshoring is not a preference, it is insurance.
Despite all these developments, Turkey's total goods exports increased by 5.2% in January-September this year compared with the same period last year and reached 211 billion dollars.