Turkey’s exports of apparel and clothing reached US$ 8.8 billion in the first half of 2018, an increase of 7.7%, compared to the same period of 2017, showing that the upward trend that started after the second half of 2017 is continuing.

From January to June 2018, the share of clothing and apparel exports in Turkey’s total exports was at 10.8%. This share was 11.1% in the same period of 2015; 12.3% in the January-June period of 2016, and 10.7% in the January-June period of 2017.

In January-June of 2018, the most ready-to-wear garments exports went to Germany, Spain and the UK. In the first six months, exports to Germany increased by 7.2% to US$ 1.7 billion, while exports to Spain increased by 26.8% to US$ 1.2 billion. Exports to the UK, increased by 1.9% and reached US$ 961.8 million. With the export figure of US$ 500.1 million, the Netherlands came in fourth place, and with US$ 455.8 million, France ranked fifth.

Apparel exports

The most exported product group in the first six months of 2018 was knitted garments. Exports of knit garments increased by 6.3% to US$ 4.5 billion in the January-June period of 2018, compared to the same period of the previous year.

The second largest group – woven apparel goods and accessories – increased by 9.7% to US$ 3.2 billion. Exports of other ready-made goods, including home textile products, rose by 7.6% to US$ 1 billion.

Unit prices in apparel and apparel exports

In the first six months of 2018, unit prices for apparel and apparel sector exports increased by 3.2%, compared to the same period of the previous year and were recorded as US$ 15.5 per kg.

In the January-June period of 2018, there was an increase in unit prices between 5.4% and 6.7% in the two product groups. Unit prices for knitted apparel products were calculated as US$ 17.9 per kg, decreasing by 0.5%, compared to January-June of 2017. In woven apparel, unit price increased by 6.7% to US$ 22.1 per kg, while it was recorded as 6.2% per kg in other ready-made goods, with an increase of 5.4%.