Textile Industry Broke Records in 2018

We are leaving behind another year that passed quickly after many exhibitions, events, domestic and overseas company visits, etc. Despite the fluctuations in the economy, 2018 has been a year of records for the textile industry, and we continued our growth in the textile market as a country. Employing 10 million people out of 80 million, the textile industry has proven that it is the lifeblood of the Turkish economy, which is as well evidenced by the increase in export figures for the last 3 months. According to the latest January-October 2018 export data, the textile industry achieved an increase of 5.4% compared to the same period in the previous year with an export of 8.8 billion USD. Again, in October, we broke the record in the entire Republican history with exports of 939 million USD to 175 countries. October 2018 has been the highest October for exports.

Another important development for us in 2018 was the record-breaking number of participants and visitors coming to the ITM and HIGHTEX 2018 exhibitions, organized jointly by TÜYAP Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. and Teknik Fuarcılık. We continue our efforts to achieve new successes for the year 2020 without a break. In this context, as Teknik Fuarcılık,
we have made courtesy visits to our customers in Germany, which are home to textile technology leaders. In our visits to Textechno, Monforts, Erbatech, Fong’s, Mayer & Cie, Reiners+Fürst, Karl Mayer, Stoll, Memminger-Iro, Trützschler and VDMA (German Textile Machinery Association), we both discussed the future of the textile industry and exchanged ideas for new cooperations. You can read more about our visit to Germany in this issue of Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Our customers, who welcomed us and hosted us in the best way possible, expressed that they are expectant of
our country despite the fluctuations in exchange rates in the last 3 months. Emphasizing that Turkey is a great country, the company executives said that our country is a major supplier in the global textile market. We also saw that the leading textile machinery manufacturers are enthusiastic to be side by side with Turkey, and to provide their support. European textile manufacturers and consumers could not be satisfied with an economic crisis in our country anyway. Because they also agree that Turkey is a locomotive in the textile industry.
To solve all kinds of problems, the government should initiate a total mobilization for the textile and apparel industry, which is the backbone of our economy with its contribution to reducing unemployment and increasing the export figures.
Looking forward to meeting you in 2019, and hoping the new year to bring success, abundant gains and innovations to our country and our industry.