Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Apparel industry sets $19B export target amid coronavirus outbreak

by Daily Sabah with AA

ISTANBUL Feb 17, 2020 - 4:00 pm GMT+3
 IHA Photo
| IHA Photo
by Daily Sabah with AA Feb 17, 2020 4:00 pm

Turkey's apparel sector seeks to further increase exports this year and expects a noteworthy surge due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, as a halt in operations in the mainland is expected to shift orders toward Turkey.

The industry, which sold goods worth $17.7 billion to foreign countries in 2019, looks to increase its exports to $19 billion this year, the head of a sector association said Monday.

The sector's share in the country's overall exports of $14.8 billion in January 2020 was 10.1%, Mustafa Gültepe, the head of the Istanbul Apparel Exporters Association (İHKİB), told Anadolu Agency (AA).

He said the apparel sector had made a "flying start" by reaching an export figure of $1.5 billion in January, up by 5.8% in the same month last year.

He added that the increase in exports was a success amid narrowing markets worldwide. "Increasing our exports by 7.7% to the EU, our biggest market raises our hopes."

Gültepe said 73.4% of the country's total apparel exports in January went to EU countries, with Germany and Spain being the main destinations.

The apparel sector also exports goods valued around $700 million to the U.S. every year which, he said, could reach $5 billion.

Turkey's garment exports are projected to rise by 10% due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has delayed shipments from the mainland.

"However, if the crisis prolongs and global markets shrink, our exports could face a negative impact," the association said.

Earlier this month, sector officials said several fashion retailers that manufacture clothing in coronavirus-hit China are in talks with Turkish firms about shifting production to Turkey.

China has some $170 billion ready-to-wear exports, Hadi Karasu, head of Turkish Clothing Manufacturers' Association (TGSD), said, predicting that some 1% of orders would be shifting to Turkey initially which could amount to $2 billion.

The virus outbreak prompted many factories to suspend operations as authorities try to contain its spread.

Polish fashion retailer LPP recently said it was in talks with factories in Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam as a backup plan if Chinese production delays continue.

  • shortlink copied
  • KEYWORDS
    business
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    The world on fire, literally and figuratively: A look back at 2021
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021