Türkiye Becomes the World’s Fifth Largest Woven Fabric Exporter
While global woven fabric trade reached $73.1 billion in 2024, Türkiye became the 5th largest woven fabric exporter in the world with $2.2 billion in exports.
The “Global Foreign Trade Report 2024 – Woven Fabric Product Group,” prepared by the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB), provides a comprehensive analysis of the sector’s performance.
Global Market Reaches $73.1 Billion
The report covers woven fabrics made from silk, wool, cotton, and plant fibers, as well as synthetic-man-made filament (SSE) and synthetic-man-made staple fiber. Global woven fabric exports in 2024 decreased by 0.4% to $73.1 billion. The sector reached its highest export figure in the last decade in 2014, reaching $84.7 billion. Global exports, which entered a downward trend in 2015 and 2016, contracted sharply by 21.4% in 2020. The sector recovered with 24.8% growth in 2021, rising to $81.7 billion in 2022, but declined by 10.2% in 2023 to $73.4 billion.
China Ranks First in Global Exports
China leads global woven fabric exports with a 56.2% share, reaching $41.1 billion. Italy comes in second with $3.8 billion, followed by India with $3.6 billion. Pakistan reached $2.2 billion with a 3.1% share. Türkiye is fifth on the list, with $2.2 billion in exports in 2024, representing a 3.1% share. Türkiye’s woven fabric exports decreased by 4.6% compared to 2023. South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Germany follow.
Top Export Product: SSE Filament Woven Fabric
Among sub-product groups, woven fabric made from synthetic artificial filament (SSE) yarns accounted for the largest share, at 43.9%. Global exports in this category decreased by 1.9% to $32.1 billion.
– Cotton woven fabric exports decreased by 4.6% to $20.1 billion.
– SSE discontinuous woven fabric exports increased by 0.6% to $14.6 billion.
– Plant fiber woven fabric exports increased by 14.4% to $2.8 billion.
– Wool and animal hair woven fabric exports decreased by 13.8% to $2.5 billion.
– Silk woven fabric exports decreased by 7% to $838 million.
Türkiye Ranks Sixth in SSE Filament Exports
China maintains its clear lead in SSE filament woven fabric exports with a 64.3% share. Türkiye ranked sixth in this product group with $866 million in exports. Türkiye is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of cotton woven fabrics with $851 million. Türkiye ranks fifth in the SSE discontinuous woven fabric category with $446 million in exports.
In wool woven fabrics, Italy maintains its leadership with a 44.7% share, while Türkiye ranks 16th with $29 million in exports. Türkiye ranked ninth in plant fiber woven fabrics with $52 million and 25th in silk woven fabrics with $1 million.
Spain, Türkiye’s Largest Market
In 2024, Spain was Türkiye’s top woven fabric export destination, with an 11.8% share. Türkiye’s exports to Spain increased by 20%, reaching $264 million. Exports to Italy decreased by 3.7% to $154 million, while Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Germany, and the US were among Türkiye’s other important markets.
The share of product groups in Türkiye’s total woven fabric exports was as follows:
– SSE filament woven fabric: 38.6%
– Cotton woven fabric: 37.9%
– SSE discontinuous woven fabric: 19.9%
– Plant fiber woven fabric: 2.3%
– Wool woven fabric: 1.3%
– Silk woven fabric: 0.1%
Türkiye Ranks 15th in Global Imports
Global woven fabric imports are expected to increase by 11.7% in 2024, reaching $66.9 billion. Vietnam is the largest importer with an 11.4% share, followed by Bangladesh and the UAE. Türkiye ranks 15th globally with $1.2 billion in imports. Türkiye’s imports decreased by 18.2% compared to 2023. Italy topped the list of top importers. Türkiye’s woven fabric imports from Italy decreased by 19.3%, falling to $250 million.
Türkiye’s Exports Declined Slightly Between January and August 2025
The Turkish textile sector exported $1.5 billion worth of woven fabric in the first eight months of 2025. This figure represents a 0.3% decrease compared to the same period last year. During the same period, Spain remained the largest market, with $191.7 million in exports. Morocco, Egypt, and Italy were among Türkiye’s strongest markets. Cotton woven fabrics were Türkiye’s top export product, with a 38.3% share.
