Turkey was Once the 2nd Most Important Destination for German Textile Machinery Manufacturers in 2023
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
Germany is among the leading countries in terms of quality, technology and efficiency in textile machinery production. In 2023, Germany, which realised approximately 2.5 billion euros of textile machinery sales, is the second country from which Turkey makes the most textile machinery purchases. In 2023, although machine sales showed a downward trend compared to the previous years, Germany exported over 300 million euros of machinery to Turkey.
Dr Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery Association, which we interviewed for the special issue of ‘Germany Textile Machinery Industry’ in our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine, made important evaluations about the Turkish market. Other highlights of the interview are as follows:
“German Textile Machinery Manufacturers Realised Exports of 2.5 Billion Euros”
Although the supply chain problems have eased, incoming orders have fallen sharply in recent months. 2023, textile machinery manufacturing still benefited from high order backlogs, meaning that production and sales remained at a decent level. Stock levels in the textile industry are high and a reluctance to invest can be felt across the entire textile chain.
The overall German exports of textile machinery and accessories between January and November 2023 reached about 2.5 billion Euros, a minus of more than 3% compared to 2022. The business situation is expected to improve at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025.
“We are Working on a Digital Product Passport that Facilitates Data Exchange”
Last year, the biggest projects have been ITMA in Milan and ITMA ASIA in Shanghai. After years of postponed and cancelled trade fairs, both shows brought together the technology solutions providers with the customers who have had no personal contact for three years. In addition, VDMA accompanied two business delegation trips to Middle America (Honduras and Guatemala) and India to make direct contacts. In 2024, there will be similar trips by business delegations to Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Another issue worth mentioning are the working groups on digitalisation which have the goal to facilitate the exchange of data between machines and superordinated systems. One of them is looking at the digital product passport and how to enable this from machine side.
“Our Three Largest Export Markets; China, Turkey and India”
Among the sales markets there have not been major changes compared to five years ago. The five biggest markets throughout the last years have been China, Turkey, India, the EU, the US, followed by markets like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Brazil.
“VDMA Companies are Ready to Support the Transformation of the Textile Industry with Their Technologies”
With a view to the future, I would like to emphasise one aspect: Environmental standards and regulation e.g. for a circular economy provide both, a challenge and a chance. On the one hand, they create pressure to adapt existing business models, on the other hand an
opportunity for the European textile machinery industry to differentiate itself from competition in the Far East.
With their technologies, VDMA companies are ready to support the transformation of the textile industry. The production programme and services include, for example, equipment and technologies for recycling textile production waste, textiles, textile auxiliaries or waste heat and for processing recycled materials into textiles.
“Germany Realised 300 Million Euros of Machinery Sales to Turkey in 2023”
The textile machinery companies in VDMA can proudly look back not just on years but decades of close cooperation with the Turkish textile industry. In 2023, Turkey was once again the second important destination for German textile machinery. The exports reached more than 300 million euros.
During the pandemic, when textile supplies from China to the EU slowed down, the Turkish textile industry impressively demonstrated its capabilities. Turkey is at the doorstep of Europe. Looking at delivery times and costs, this provides the Turkish textile sector a great benefit. The importance of the Turkish textile industry for the VDMA member companies will continue to grow in the future.
“VDMA Member companies are Well Prepared for ITM 2024”
For the German textile machinery industry, the Turkish market performed excellent in the years 2021 and 2022. In 2023, the German exports to Turkey dropped, but business was still on a good level. Like in other sales markets incoming orders from Turkey have fallen in recent months and there is no significant improvement in the business situation expected for 2024. Nevertheless, the VDMA member companies are well prepared for ITM 2024 and it is hoped that the foundations are being laid in Istanbul for the business situation to brighten up again with a view to 2025.
