In April, Turkey’s exports in both general and textiles and raw materials sector suffered a serious decline. It is stated that the markets being closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the supply chain disruptions and the restrictions on various materials were effective in this process. Turkey’s overall exports in April were valued at 9 billion dollars decreasing by 41.4%. Similarly, in April, exports of the textile and raw materials sector amounted to 414 million dollars, with a decrease by 51.7%. In the January-April period of 2020, the sector’s exports decreased by 16.1% and reached 2.8 billion dollars. While the share of the textile sector in overall exports in April was 4.6% with a decrease of 1 point, this share was recorded as 5.6% in the January-April period. Textile exports decreased by 51.7% in April
According to the export performance report prepared by İTKİB, the textile and raw materials sector achieved an increase compared to the figures of the previous year with an export of 834 million dollars in January and 835 million dollars in February. However, in March, the export figures started to lag behind last year, with the World Health Organization declaring the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and especially after European countries took restrictive decisions.
Loss of textile exports in April was more remarkable
The industry, which exported 898 million dollars in March last year, was able to achieve 754 million dollars in the same month this year, with a slight decline. However, the loss of exports in April was more remarkable. The sector exported 857 million dollars in April last year, but recorded a value of 414 million dollars in April 2020, with an export loss of more than 50%. The sector’s export loss on a monthly basis was 44.4%.
The increase in quantity basis, which has been continuously increasing for many years, also displayed a negative outlook. In the January-April period, exports of the Turkish textile and raw materials sector on a quantity basis decreased by 11% compared to the same period of the previous year and remained at 699 thousand tons. Considering only April, export decline in quantity was 45.2%. According to the Republic of Turkey Central Bank data, the capacity utilization rate in the textile sector in April was announced as 44.3%. Capacity utilization rate was 79% in January, 79.3% in February and 78.1% in March.
Textile exports to the EU market decreased by 50%
In April 2020, the highest exports of textiles and raw materials were made to 28 EU countries, as in previous periods. Textile exports to 28 EU member countries decreased by 52.4% to 206 million dollars. Considering the January-April period, exports to these markets remained at 1.4 billion dollars, with a 20.9% loss.
Exports to the Former East Bloc Countries, the second largest market in textile exports, decreased by 60.1% to 34 million dollars in April, and decreased by 9% to 293 million dollars in the January-April period. Exports to African countries were 32.5 million dollars, down 65.4% in April, and 290 million dollars, down 16.2% in the January-April period.
Losses occurred in 10 most important export country markets
Regarding the exports of the sector in terms of countries, Germany remained the most important market. However, textile exports to Germany in April decreased by 36.1% to 46 million dollars. In the context of January-April period, textile exports to this country decreased by 7.5% and reached the value of 252 million dollars.
Italy was the second country with the highest export volume in the sector. Textile and raw materials exports to Italy decreased by 64.3% in April to 25 million dollars. In the first four months of 2020, this export decreased by 25% to 214 million dollars.
Exports to the US, the third most important textile market, decreased by 21.4% in April to 35 million dollars. In the first four months of the year, exports amounted to 167 million dollars, with a decrease of 7.7%. In April, there were serious losses in the rest of the sector’s top ten markets; Britain (14.7 million dollars, down 62.8%), Bulgaria (13 million dollars, down 65.5%); Spain (12.3 million dollars, down 58.1%), Egypt (11.4 million dollars, down 60.8%); The Netherlands (13.8 million dollars, down 50.9%), Poland (13.9 million dollars, down 34.8%) and Belarus (6.3 million dollars, down 70.8%).
Woven fabric exports decreased by 73.3% in April
In the January-April period of 2020, the most important product group of the textile industry in exports was woven fabric. The export of woven fabric, which constitutes 20.8% of the exports of textiles and raw materials; decreased by 26.6% and reached the value of 588 million dollars. On April alone, exports of woven fabric decreased by 73.7%, remaining at 55 million dollars.
Technical textiles included in the textile sector constituted the second important product group of the sector with a 17.9% share. In the January-April period, exports of technical textiles increased by 0.1% to 505 million dollars; while on April, this export was realized as 141 million dollars with an increase of 6.9%.
In the January-April period, yarn exports decreased by 23.4% to 485 million dollars; knitted fabric exports by 22.6% to 395 million dollars, fibre exports by 8.3% to 212 million dollars; home textile fabrics by 23.4% to 106 million dollars; exports of special yarns and fabrics decreased by 21.5% to 155 million dollars; while home textile exports decreased by 16% to 409 million dollars.
Technical textile exports increased by 3.5% in January-April period of 2020 and reached 613 million dollars. On April, exports of this product group increased by 1.5%. In this increase, nonwoven products had an important place. Nonwoven exports reached 223 million dollars with an increase of 9.6%.