From January to July 2021, Turkey’s garment shipments will increase by 27%

From January to July of this year, Turkey’s ready-to-wear and confectionery shipments to foreign markets increased by a healthy 27 percent to more than $11.1 billion on an annual basis. Exports to Germany increased to $1.9 billion, followed by 1.5 billion to Spain and $1.2 billion to the United Kingdom. In the first seven months of the year, exports to the Czech Republic increased by more than 200 percent to $148 million, while exports to Tunisia increased by 250 percent to $63.5 million. According to Burak Sertbaş, Chairperson of the Aegean Ready Wear and Confection Exporters’ Union, the industry’s exports are expected to reach $20 billion by the end of this year. At the beginning of the pandemic, local companies exported more medical textile products, but currently exports are primarily producing traditional garments such as suits, shirts, and trousers, he adds. According to Sertbaş, local businesses are currently at capacity and cannot accept orders that must be fulfilled in a short amount of time.