Turkish Leather Sector Returns from the U.S. with New Orders
The Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (IDMIB) is returning hopeful from its sectoral trade delegation to the United States. Within the scope of the program, in which a total of 16 Turkish companies participated with 22 representatives, nearly 300 bilateral business meetings were held with 65 foreign buyer companies, while concrete steps were taken toward potential business connections and preliminary order negotiations were conducted.
Stating that the quality, design strength, and reliable supplier identity offered by Türkiye are the main reasons why Turkish companies are increasingly in demand in the U.S. each year, IDMIB Chairman Güven Karaca said, “The U.S., with its high import volume and demand for value-added products, continues to be a strategic target market for the Turkish leather and leather products sector. Despite declines and fluctuations experienced by global suppliers such as China and Italy, our country increasing its exports to the U.S. is an important development that strengthens our sector’s competitive power and position in the market. In this context, we plan to invite U.S.-based L.L. Bean and Ariat to Türkiye in the upcoming period to conduct bilateral business meetings with our companies. Additionally, within the scope of the TDK Leather and Fur Fashion Show event, we will implement a new purchasing delegation organization.”
The sectoral trade delegation organized to the U.S. by the Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (İDMİB) was held in New York in recent days. Within the scope of the program, in which a total of 16 Turkish companies from the footwear, leather & fur garments, and saddlery sub-sectors participated with 22 representatives, nearly 300 bilateral business meetings were held with 65 foreign buyer companies. Ezgi Turan Çakmak, Head of the Department of Associations and Support Services of the Directorate General of Exports at the Ministry of Trade, also took part in the delegation.
During the program, the Commercial Attachés of the Turkish Consulate General in New York—Filiz Köseyener, Osman Nuri Gökbulut, and Alper Atilla—as well as the President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), Mustafa Gültepe, visited the delegation and met with the companies.
Nearly 100 Buyers Attended
The program, held in the U.S., the largest importer of leather and leather products, was found highly efficient by companies both in terms of participation numbers and the quality of the meetings. While a comprehensive invitation process was conducted beforehand for potential buyers in the U.S. and Canada, nearly 100 professional buyers from New York, California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in the U.S., as well as Edmonton and Toronto in Canada, attended the bilateral meetings during the event days. In total, 65 foreign companies met face-to-face with Turkish manufacturers, gaining the opportunity to examine products on site and strengthen business connections.
The U.S. Market Holds Strategic Importance for the Turkish Leather and Leather Products Sector
Emphasizing that the quality, design strength, and reliable supplier identity offered by Türkiye are the main reasons why Turkish companies are increasingly in demand in the U.S. each year, İDMİB Chairman Güven Karaca said, “U.S. leather and leather products imports increased by 4.7% in 2024, reaching 43.3 billion dollars. Türkiye, on the other hand, increased its exports to the U.S. by 11.65% in the same period, reaching 115.9 million dollars. Due to its high import volume and demand for value-added products, the U.S. continues to be a strategic target market for the Turkish leather and leather products sector. Despite declines and fluctuations experienced by major suppliers such as China and Italy, Türkiye increasing its exports to the U.S. is a positive development that strengthens our sector’s competitive power and position in the market.”
Pointing out that the U.S. market offers a structure that requires high volume, quality, and continuity, IDMIB Board Member İsmail Turgut continued as follows: “That nearly 300 meetings were held in this delegation shows that our sector’s recognition and competitive advantage in the U.S. are steadily increasing. The companies participating in the delegation expressed their satisfaction due to the intensity of the meetings and the qualified buyer profile. Many companies reported that initial contacts for potential business connections were established and preliminary order negotiations have begun. As IDMIB, we will continue our efforts toward this market and strengthen the position of our companies in the U.S. with organizations of broader participation. I would also like to underline that the regular and sustainable continuation of similar sectoral trade delegations is of critical importance for the Turkish leather and leather products sector to achieve a stronger position in international markets.”
IDMIB Board Member Gürkan Gözmen stated that they have insisted on the U.S. market for the last 10 years and said the following: “We see that we have begun to stand out in the search for U.S. buyers for alternative producers. As IDMIB, we will continue our efforts toward the market through such fairs and similar events. Particularly in recent years, with the winter months being cold and stylish designs being offered by our sector for protection from the cold, we can say that our market share in the fur garments sector has reached 15%. Our target is to increase our market share to 20% by the end of 2025 and to 30% within the next three years.”
