Review and Forecast During 2009-2010, Turkish textile exports to Russia increased significantly. For example, in 2009, the Turkish textile industry shrank by 25% due to the financial crisis. According to the report of the Antalya Textile Exporters Union of Turkey, the total export volume of the textile industry in 2009 was US$77 million. Although the overall textile industry shows a downward trend, exports to Russia increased by 169% year-on-year in 2009. In 2009, Turkey’s textile industry’s exports to Russia soared, making Russia the sixth largest export country for Turkey. In terms of total trade, Russia ranks 15th among countries importing from Turkey. In 2009, Turkish textile companies’ exports to Russia reached US$4 million.
In 2009, Germany remained Turkey’s largest textile importer. Last year, German imports from Türkiye reached US$19 million.
France’s imports from Türkiye also rank among the top. France imported a total of US$8.5 million from Turkey, followed closely by the United Kingdom, which imported US$7.5 million.
“China may pose a threat to Turkey’s textile exports,” said 38-year-old textile exporter Ali Riza Ermish. Although the Turkish textile industry has achieved a solid position in many European markets and the Russian market, other countries may have Turkey poses a threat, especially to China, which is doing everything possible to reduce production costs.
It is expected that Turkey’s export situation to Russia will still be relatively good in 2010. Although the region’s textile industry shrank by 25% in 2009, compared with other industries, the decline rate of the textile industry is much lower than that of other industries. Although growth was negative, the textile industry’s share of Turkey’s exports increased from 5.3% to 5.7% in 2009. The textile industry’s export target this year is US$106 million.
