Textile Industry in Turkey

The industrialization efforts of the sixties and seventies gave birth to the modern textile industry in Turkey. At the beginning, this sector operated as small workshops. In time the sector showed rapid development and during the seventies began exporting. Currently it is one of the most important sectors in the Turkish economy in terms of GDP, employment and exports. The share of this sector in the country's GDP is around 10 % and the sector's share of employment in total employment in the country is 20 %. Its share of production in total industrial production of the country is around 40 %.

Today, Turkey is one of the most important textile and clothing producers and exporters in the world. Turkey ranks 6th in world exports of clothing in 1998.

As a quality cotton-producing country, Turkey has an integrated and diversified production in all sub-sectors of the textile industry, produces and exports all types of yarn, fabric, clothing, household textiles and other ready-made products.

Turkey, as a traditional cotton grower has a great advantage in the production of textile and clothing. In 1999, the amount of cotton grown in Turkey was 855 000 tons.

By the year 2000, with the completion of the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP), it is estimated that Turkey's cotton production will be twice what it is today.