Türkiye's apparel exports remained under pressure in the first eight months of 2026. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and the Ministry of Trade, apparel exports fell 8.8% year-on-year to about US$17 billion in Jan-Aug (the original figure was masked; the year-on-year decline is described per the report), with both major categories—knitted and crocheted apparel (HS 61) and woven apparel and clothing accessories (HS 62)—posting declines. In August alone, the two categories combined exported about US$2 billion, down 8% year-on-year, reversing the brief recovery seen in June and July.

Key points

  • In Jan-Aug 2026, Türkiye's apparel exports declined year-on-year, with knitted items falling less than woven items.
  • In August, knitted apparel exports fell to about US$336 million, while woven apparel dropped to about US$697 million.
  • Weak European demand, cautious brand sourcing, and price competition from low-cost origins are the main reasons for the export pressure.

In terms of category structure, exports of knitted and crocheted apparel (HS 61) edged down year-on-year in Jan-Aug to about US$9.6 billion; woven apparel and clothing accessories (HS 62) fell more sharply, to about US$7.5 billion. Combined, the two were significantly below the roughly US$18.7 billion recorded in the same period of 2025.

August's data deserve particular attention. That month, knitted apparel exports fell about 5% year-on-year to US$336 million, while woven apparel exports dropped about 11% year-on-year to US$697 million; together they totaled about US$2 billion, below nearly US$2.2 billion in August 2025. This pullback came after slight improvements in June and July, indicating that the recovery in Türkiye's apparel exports is not yet solid.

Industry insiders note that the environment for exporters remains difficult: European market demand is sluggish, brands are placing orders more conservatively, and price competition from low-cost sourcing hubs is intensifying. For Türkiye's garment industry, which relies mainly on the European market, both order flow and bargaining room are being squeezed.

From the perspective of the global used clothing and textile-apparel trade, Türkiye is not only an important apparel manufacturing and exporting country but also a key node in Europe's second-hand clothing sorting, reuse, and re-export chain. The continued contraction of its garment exports means that demand for upstream fabrics and accessories, as well as order volumes in related logistics and sorting segments, may weaken in tandem; if European brands continue to source more cautiously, flows of second-hand clothing and recycled fiber raw materials destined for Türkiye may also adjust.

Source: Turkiye's apparel exports remain under pressure in Jan-Aug 2026 · Originally published on 2026-10-01