The textile and raw materials sector achieved an export of 2 billion 650 million dollars in the first quarter of the year. In addition to investments in the establishment of new facilities, machinery and capacity increase, technology and energy investments that provide cost advantages have strengthened Turkey’s position in the world supply chain. Companies that have achieved cost savings with investments are preparing to reach the sector’s export target of 15 billion dollars this year. While Istanbul maintained its top position with exports of 346 million dollars in March, Gaziantep followed it with 172 million dollars.
The break in the world supply chain during the pandemic brought dynamism to the textile industry. Countries seeking supply security and diversity in textiles have turned to Turkey. According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), exports of the textile and raw materials sector in March increased by 9.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 953 million dollars. In the first quarter, the sector realized an export of 2 billion 650 million dollars with an increase of more than 13 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY INVESTMENTS INCREASED EXPORTS
Stating that the textile and raw materials industry has turned the pandemic into an opportunity, Akınal Tekstil Founder Cevdet Akınal made the following assessment on the subject:
“Our exports, which reached the limit of 13 billion dollars with an increase of more than 33% in 2021, when the most shocking effects of the pandemic were felt, is an indicator of the R&D and innovation power of our industry. With our position as Europe’s second supplier, we expanded our operations in EU countries and in America, which is among our biggest target markets. Our exports to America reached the 1 billion dollar mark. Companies operating in the sector are increasing Turkey’s position in the world supply chain with their new investments. The new facility, machinery park, investments to increase capacity, as well as technology and energy investments that provide cost advantages, triggered the exports of the sector. With such investments, it is inevitable that we will reach our export target of 15 billion dollars this year.”
IT BRINGS EFFICIENCY TO ITS ACTIVITIES WITH SOLAR ENERGY
Noting that in Gaziantep, which is the 5th among Turkey’s export champion provinces, textiles and raw materials take place in the first place of products with high export volume, Cevdet Akınal said, “Our biggest export markets are Iraq, USA, Syria, Italy, England, Germany, Libya, Israel, Djibouti and Iran. As one of the most rooted companies in Gaziantep, we carry our province’s exports to higher levels with our production, R&D and innovation power. We set an example for our region with the investments we have made in this context. We have installed a solar energy system in our facility with OzEnergy, which has installed solar power plants over 300 Megawatts, mainly in Europe and Asia, providing solar energy to production facilities all over Turkey. Thus, we saved our production costs and brought efficiency to our operations. With this savings, we have assumed an exemplary role in our region as well. With the cost advantage we provide, we will accelerate our activities this year.”
