Turkish footwear and textile sectors report divergent economic trends

The Turkish footwear and textile sectors are experiencing divergent trends. The footwear industry is facing a significant crisis characterized by rising production costs and a loss of global competitiveness. According to Berke İçten, President of the Turkish Footwear Manufacturers Association (TASD), footwear exports fell from 377 million pairs in 2022 to 187 million pairs in 2025, with export revenues dropping from $1.3 billion to $1 billion. Conversely, imports rose from 43 million to 76 million pairs, causing the sector to shift from a $550 million trade surplus to a $700 million deficit. TASD has proposed four support measures, including zeroing import taxes on raw materials and increasing employment support.

In contrast, the Southeast Anatolian Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association (GATHİB) reports a recovery in the textile sector. Mete Akcan, President of GATHİB, stated that despite global economic challenges and rising freight costs, the sector exported to 187 countries in the first nine months of the year, totaling $2.7 billion. The European Union remains the top destination for these exports, followed by the Middle East and Africa. Iraq, the United Kingdom, and Syria are among the leading individual country markets for the region's textile exports.