Türkiye’s Textile Export Outlook 2025: Key Markets, Trends, and Opportunities

Türkiye’s textile industry remains one of the country’s most strategic export sectors, maintaining resilience despite global trade fluctuations. In the first quarter of 2025, total textile and raw materials exports reached 2.898 billion USD, marking a slight increase of 0.2% compared to the same period in 2024. March 2025 alone saw exports hit 1 billion USD, representing 1.8% year-on-year and 10.5% month-on-month growth. The textile sector accounted for approximately 4.4% of Türkiye’s total exports in the period.

Main Export Markets

Türkiye continues to engage with diverse markets, although some regions showed stronger growth than others:

• European Union: 1.189 billion USD in Q1 2025; down 0.7%
• Africa: 372 million USD; up 21.4%
• Asia and Oceania: 250 million USD; up 27.6%, the fastest-growing region

Country-Level Performance

Export performance varied across key markets in Q1 2025:

• Italy: 223 million USD; down 1.4%
• USA: 177 million USD; down 0.2%
• Germany: 174 million USD; down 3.3%
• Egypt: 141 million USD; up 57.5%, highlighting its strong growth potential

Egypt emerged as a standout, particularly in woven fabric exports, which rose by 84.6% to 34 million USD.

Product Group Analysis

Türkiye’s textile exports cover multiple categories, each performing differently in 2025’s first quarter:

• Technical textiles: 582 million USD; up 6%
• Woven fabrics: 578 million USD; down 4%
• Yarn: 564.6 million USD; up 0.7%

Technical Textiles: A Sector of Growing Opportunity

Technical textiles have emerged as the most dynamic export segment. In 2024, Türkiye achieved 2.3 billion USD in technical textiles exports, growing 3.3% compared to the previous year. Exports to the EU alone reached 1.1 billion USD, an 8.7% increase. Leading EU markets such as Germany, Italy, the UK, and Spain posted growth rates of up to 32%.

This product group shows strong potential for entrepreneurs willing to invest in innovation, smart fabrics, and sustainable production. January 2025 reinforced this positive trend, with technical textile exports rising by 8.1% year-on-year to 193 million USD.

Ready-to-Wear Sector Update

The ready-to-wear segment demonstrated a more challenging environment during the first half of 2025. The biggest markets for this category were:

• Germany: 1.4 billion USD; down 1.7%
• Netherlands: 952.3 million USD; down 9.5%
• Spain: 800 million USD; down 11.7%

The top ten export destinations together accounted for 5.7 billion USD, representing 70.2% of Türkiye’s total ready-to-wear exports in the first six months of 2025.

Emerging Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Several markets and product categories stand out as promising areas for expansion:

• Egypt: rapid growth with 57.5% increase in textile imports from Türkiye, driven largely by woven fabrics
• Asia and Oceania: 50.6% increase in export volume to 120,000 tons; March 2025 saw an extraordinary 123.1% year-on-year increase
• Technical textiles: steady growth trajectory, presenting the most attractive opportunity for forward-looking companies investing in technology and sustainable manufacturing practices

Challenges Facing the Sector

Despite these opportunities, Türkiye’s textile and apparel industry continues to face structural challenges. In 2024, the sector lost about 65,000 jobs (52,000 in apparel and 12,000 in textiles). This decline highlights the pressure on companies that have been slow to embrace digitalization, automation, and efficiency-driven solutions.

Outlook for International Investors

Türkiye’s textile sector remains a vital player in global trade, with attractive opportunities in fast-growing markets such as Egypt, Asia, and technical textile segments. Businesses focusing on sustainability, environmentally friendly production, and innovative fabrics can establish a competitive edge. Moreover, companies willing to adapt swiftly to technological transformation will be best positioned to benefit from Türkiye’s strategic role in global textile supply chains.