Turkish textile exporters, who have long shipped nearly half of their goods to Europe, are now shifting toward Syria and North African markets as their presence in the EU continues to shrink.
The decline has been linked to reduced competitiveness, a surge in Chinese exports to Europe after U.S. tariffs, and waning demand across the region.
During a 2025 sector review meeting in Istanbul, Ahmet Öksüz, chairman of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB), stated that the industry’s share in the EU market dropped to 40% last year and is projected to decrease even more this year.
He also noted that, despite challenges in the EU market, exports to North Africa have risen by 14%. Addressing concerns about textile production shifting to Egypt, Öksüz affirmed that the industry has not undergone a mass relocation.
“Our main goal is to preserve existing capacities in Türkiye. We advise those who invest abroad to maintain part of their production here. Regional thinking is crucial,” he added.
Data from the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) shows that the ready-to-wear and apparel sector recorded exports worth $16.77 billion in 2025, marking a 6.3% drop from 2024.
The industry accounted for 7.1% of Türkiye’s total exports, which stood at $237.4 billion last year.
Meanwhile, Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly, highlighted that labor-intensive industries have seen a decline in competitiveness over the past two and a half years.
He added that, if projections hold, Türkiye could exceed the Medium-Term Program’s 2026 export goal of $282 billion.
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