Turkey’s textile sector has been on an upward swing, even while problems like the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have plagued the global textile industry. Turkey ranks among the top countries in the world when it comes to both textile manufacturing and exports. In 2024, Turkey’s textile exports stood at US$ 35 billion, highlighting its growing influence in the global textile sector. (source)

A big reason for Turkey’s strong influence in the textile sector is its well-developing technical textiles industry. Turkey’s manufacturing sector is advancing rapidly, complimenting the growth in the textile industry. For instance, Turkey’s manufacturing output in 2023 saw a nearly 9% increase in comparison to 2022. (source)

This has led to increased demand for technical textiles from industries such as automotive and aerospace. Combined with the presence of significant textile expertise in the country, Turkey is standing out for its technical textile production.

What are Technical Textiles?

Technical textiles are textiles produced for the express purpose of being used in harsh conditions or in industrial environments. Unlike fashion or regular apparel, they do not serve a decorating purpose, i.e. they are not meant to be attractive. Instead, they are engineered to withstand tough conditions such as factories and hospitals.

Being used in industrial and medical settings, technical textiles are designed to be resistant to fire, chemicals, and other hazardous materials. Examples of technical textiles include:

  • •  Geo-textiles
  • •   Ropes & belts
  • •   Medical textiles such as surgical dressings, surgical gowns, and sanitary napkins
  • •   Textiles used in automobiles, aircraft, railways, and shipbuilding, such as seat covers, seat belts, and carpets
  • •   Firefighter clothing

Prominent Companies Producing Technical Textiles in Country

The development of technical textiles in Turkey is led by domestic companies producing and distributing the goods. Some of the prominent ones include:

  • •   Kirayteks A.S.
  • •   Anadolu Weaving (ADOK) (specializing in car fabrics)
  • •   SASA (producer of non-woven materials for use in industries like automotive and medical)
  • •   AKINAL SENTETIK TEKSTIL
  • •   Hayat Holding (Specialty in medical textiles)

A Suitable Environment

One of the key reasons for Turkey’s progress in the technical textile category is the suitable environment created for textile research in the country. Organizations like the Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), and schemes like the Investment Incentive Program foster an environment of constant research and development.

How Superior Raw Material Bolsters Technical Textiles in Turkey

Turkey is recognized as one of the premier regions in the world for quality fiber and fabrics. This eases the process of quality raw material acquisition for technical textile producers. With the wide availability of high-quality raw materials, domestic production of technical textiles is accelerated.

Cotton is one of the premier materials used in the production of technical textiles, especially medical textiles. Turkish cotton is known for being high-quality and having long-staple length. This lends the cotton exceptional softness, durability, and absorbency.

This is further improved by growing number of producers getting certifications like OEKO-TEX. This leads to Turkey becoming a prosperous raw material sourcing destination, leading to increased technical textile production potential.

Increasing Technical Textile Export Thorough Turkey

Technical textile production in Turkey is bolstered by increasing demand for them abroad. Turkey has the geographical advantage of being situated smack dab in the middle of the significant manufacturing regions of Europe and the Middle East. European countries like Germany, Italy, and France are some of the top destinations for technical textiles made in Turkey.

Peaks and Valleys: Disruptions in the Technical Textile Market of Turkey

While there is positivity in the technical textile sector in Turkey, there have also been a few recent snags. In the first half of 2024, technical textile exports out of Turkey decreased by 2.5%. This is in stark contrast to the pre-pandemic period when, for instance, exports increased by 19% in 2018. (source)

The threat of natural disasters, like the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit, among others, the premier manufacturing city of Gaziantep in 2023, and ongoing global trade wars & economic downturns also affect the industry.

A Promising Future

Even with the threats to manufacturing, the future for technical textiles is still bright in the country. The technical textile market in Turkey is set to be worth US$ 1.8 billion in 2030 (source). This shows that despite snags, the industry is set to move forward at a rapid pace in the future.

Conclusion

Technical textiles form a major part of the Turkish textile industry. A thriving technical textile sector points to an overall thriving textile industry in the country. However, the global hardships for the textile sector are also reflected in Turkey.

This is where TexPro steps in. It is a tool which lets technical textile industry players in Turkey get a handle on the market and keep tabs on important factors. Whether it is a manufacturer looking for latest cotton prices or an exporter wanting to know tariffs for Turkish technical textiles in Germany, this solution has all the relevant information.

What’s more, to ease the analysis of Turkish businesses even further, TexPro also has a Turkish language version. Hence, everyone involved in the business of technical textiles can be privy to the data that is utilized for decision-making.

Hence, TexPro is the complete solution for Turkish businesses engaged in technical textiles.

 

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