According to data from the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ITHIB), the Turkish textile industry’s exports amounted to USD 5.6 billion in the January–June 2026 period, marking a 1% decline compared to the same period of the previous year. Apparel and garment exports also decreased by 1%, amounting to USD 6.9 billion. Combined exports of the Turkish textile and apparel industries reached approximately USD 12.5 billion in the first half of the year, down 1% year-on-year. The two industries accounted for 9.2% of Türkiye’s total exports.
Export figures for June 2026 increased compared to June 2025. Exports of textiles and raw materials rose by 20.7%, while apparel and garment exports increased by 16%. The combined exports of the two industries recorded an 18% increase.
Türkiye exported USD 2.3 billion worth of textiles and raw materials to EU countries during the first half of the year. While this represented a 1% decline compared to the same period last year, exports in June increased by 20.7% year-on-year.
Following the EU countries, which accounted for a 41.1% share of exports, Africa ranked second. Exports to the region increased by 4% in the January–June period, reaching USD 799.6 million. Former Eastern Bloc countries followed with an 11.3% decline, as exports to the region fell to USD 607.7 million in the first half of the year.
Türkiye increased its textile and raw materials exports to the Americas, the fourth-largest export destination, by 14.7% to USD 523.1 million.
Exports to Middle Eastern countries, ranking fifth, showed no significant increase and remained at USD 442 million during the period.
Italy was the leading destination for Turkish textile exports in the first half of the year. Exports to Italy amounted to USD 435 million, representing a 0.8% decline compared to the previous period. The United States remained a growing market for Turkish textile exporters in the first half of 2026. Exports to the country increased by 14% to USD 409 million during the January–June period. Germany ranked third, with textile exports declining by 5.7% to USD 334 million.
While textile exports to Spain, Egypt and Morocco increased, exports to the United Kingdom, Belarus, Bulgaria and France declined.
US market gains share in Turkish textile exports
Technical textiles, woven fabrics and yarn were the top three export product groups in the January–June 2026 period.
Technical textile exports increased by 0.7% to USD 1.175 billion during the period. The leading destinations for technical textile exports were the United States, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Exports to the United States increased by 17% to USD 118.2 million.
During the same period, woven fabric exports increased by 2% to USD 1.161 billion, while yarn exports rose by 0.5% to USD 1.125 billion. The leading markets for woven fabric exports were Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Italy and Tunisia. In yarn exports, the top five destinations were Italy, Egypt, Portugal, the United States and the United Kingdom. Exports of woven fabrics to the United States increased by 31.2%, while yarn exports to the country rose by 44.7%.
Among the remaining product groups, home textiles, knitted fabrics and fibres recorded declines of 1.7%, 11.2% and 0.7%, respectively. In home textiles, Belarus stood out with a 34.3% increase, while India attracted attention in fibre exports with a 135.8% rise.
Employment trend turns upward again
Employment figures in the textile and apparel industries recorded a slight increase. Total employment was reported at 852,000, including 349,000 in the textile industry and 502,000 in apparel manufacturing. After remaining below one million since August 2024, employment figures increased for the first time after a long period.
In capacity utilisation rates covering the June 2025–June 2026 period, the manufacturing industry recorded a 0.1% decline, while the textile industry posted a 0.6% increase. The manufacturing industry’s capacity utilisation rate stood at 74.5% in June 2026, while the rate in the textile industry was reported at 70.4%.