Turkey
As hubs in Europe, Asia and Africa, Turkey and Greece both have long histories and cultures. The rich and distinctive cultural heritage of the two countries gives their textile and apparel industries different development trajectories and product styles.
Exotic Turkish home textile products and Greek fashion clothing brands containing Aegean civilization have penetrated the fog of history and influenced today’s fashion industry.
The Chinese textile and garment industry delegation, led by Gao Yong, Party Secretary and Secretary-General of the China National Textile and Apparel Federation, visited Turkey and Greece from November 6 to 13, 2019. Understand the development status of the modern textile industry behind the mystery of the ancient civilization and explore opportunities for cooperation.
The delegation’s first stop was Turkey – a “classical and modern, Eastern and Western, developed and developing country” The magical land of “Six Faces”. Turkey has a population of about 80 million and has developed rapidly in recent years. In 2018, its GDP increased by 2.6%, and its per capita GDP reached US$9,632. It has become another “BRICS” country after China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa and other “BRICS” countries. emerging economies.
Turkey is the world’s second largest exporter of carpets and socks, the third largest exporter of knitted garments, the fourth largest exporter of home textiles, and the fifth largest exporter of fabrics. The textile and garment industry The total output value is US$90 billion.
The Turkish textile and garment industry employs 960,000 people, accounting for 26% of the total employment in the manufacturing industry, and the total fiber processing volume is 4.1 million tons.
Turkey’s textile and apparel exports in 2018 were US$27.9 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4%, of which textile exports were US$12.5 billion and clothing exports were US$15.4 billion.
Turkey straddles Asia and Europe. Its superior geographical location and good textile industry foundation have made Turkey one of the largest suppliers of textiles and clothing in Europe. In particular, many European fast fashion brands prefer to Purchase from Turkey.
Turkey has a relatively complete textile and clothing industry chain. The textile and clothing industry plays a decisive role in Turkey’s economy. There are more than 56,000 textile and clothing companies employing 910,000 people.
The industry has the characteristics of cluster development, mainly concentrated in three major regions: Marmara Region, Aegean Region and Kukurova Region.
Turkey’s cotton also has a certain influence, and its yield and quality continue to improve. In 2018, lint cotton production was 806,000 tons. Due to its special geographical advantages, Turkey is also one of the important trade hubs, and its total textile and apparel trade ranks among the top ten in the world.
In 2018, Turkey imported US$2.05 billion in textiles and clothing from China, accounting for 9.9% of Turkey’s total imports from China. During the same period, textiles and apparel accounted for 8.4% of the total export trade to China, with an export value of US$240 million.
In order to protect the development of the local textile and garment industry and reduce the impact of the international market on the domestic industry, the Turkish government has significantly increased import tariffs on textile and garments many times in recent years.
At the same time, it provides incentives for companies to process supplied materials. Many Turkish textile and garment companies import semi-finished products from China and other countries, and after processing, they are exported to North America, Western Europe and other places, enjoying the Relevant tax reduction and exemption policies.
Denizli, located in central Turkey, is an important textile industry cluster in Turkey and a cotton producing area. During their stay in Denizli, the delegation visited the Denizli Exporters Association.
Mr. Huseyin Memisoglu, Chairman of Denizli Exporters Association, introduced: Denizli Exporters Association has 2,000 member companies, and more than 2,000 products of different categories are sold to 180 countries, 60% of which are sold to the European market, 42% of the products are textiles, and home textile products such as towels and bedding account for a large proportion. In recent years, the association has focused on promoting the improvement of design and fashion capabilities in the textile and apparel industry, and regularly holds fashion shows and other activities to help companies enhance their brand influence.
In addition, an industrial zone is under construction in Denizli. The park is 5 kilometers away from the airport and has convenient transportation and logistics. We hope that foreign high-quality textile and garment companies will settle in and jointly promote the sustainability of the Turkish textile industry. develop.
Menderes is a subsidiary of the AKCA Group, accounting for 61% of the group’s total business. It mainly produces home textiles such as bedding, decorative fabrics, shirt fabrics, etc. . The company was founded in 1958. After more than half a century of development, it has developed into a vertically integrated international textile enterprise with more than 4,000 employees.
Currently, the company’s products are exported to 41 countries, of which Europe accounts for 57%, the United States accounts for 28%, and the local market accounts for 15%. While continuing to develop, Menderes attaches great importance to social responsibility and sustainable development. The company has cooperated with many Chinese companies and imported some yarns and gray fabrics from China. The yarn and fabric companies in the delegation communicated with the company on upstream and downstream cooperation.
In addition, the delegation walked into��Garment factory of Kayank Tekstil Company. Kayank Tekstil is a full industry chain enterprise covering yarn, fabrics and clothing. The company currently has 1,600 employees, including 400 in clothing, and has an export volume of US$40 million. The clothing products are all woven clothing, produced and processed for internationally renowned brands such as LACOSTE, MAXMARA, and ZARA.
Greece
Greece is located at the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula and is at the hub of Europe, Asia and Africa. It has obvious geographical advantages. As a member of the European Union, it plays the role of the gateway to Europe and its strategic position is very prominent.
Greece is an important cotton producer and exporter in the EU. In 2018, Greece’s lint cotton output was 307,000 tons, accounting for approximately 80% of the EU’s annual cotton output. At present, the Greek textile and apparel industry mainly focuses on the research and development and production of high value-added products, focusing on the cultivation of design capabilities and providing high-quality design services to customers. Its production capacity has basically been transferred from the local area to India, Turkey and other places. Local production enterprises Less in quantity.
The silk industry is one of the textile industries with a long history and key development in Greece.
Textiles and clothing are one of Greece’s important export products, accounting for about 4.3% of the overall export volume. In 2018, Greece’s total textile exports were US$1.677 billion, of which the total textile exports were US$972 million and the total textile exports were US$705 million; the total textile and clothing imports were US$2.749 billion, of which the total textile imports were US$850 million and the total clothing imports were US$1.899 billion.
From the perspective of export products, in addition to clothing, cotton is its most important export product. In 2018, Greece’s cotton exports were US$399 million, accounting for 23.8% of the total textile and clothing exports. The main cotton export destinations are Turkey, Egypt, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Vietnam.
From the perspective of imports, in addition to clothing, chemical fiber filaments, staple fibers and related fabric products are its most important imported products. In 2018, the import volume was US$212 million. China was the first import source country for the above-mentioned products, followed by Turkey and Italy.
During the investigation in Greece, the delegation communicated and exchanged with the Greek Clothing Association, the Greek Fashion Association and a number of cotton textile companies. The Greek government attaches great importance to this delegation’s visit and specially sent the Minister of Investment and Development of Greece to attend this exchange meeting. During the investigation, the delegation also visited a number of local textile and apparel production and design companies.
Gao Yong said during the inspection that Turkey and Greece are important partners for China to jointly build the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”, and initiated the In response to the Belt and Road Initiative, the two countries have played the role of the middle corridor.
China’s textile industry has been in a low-growth stage in recent years. To accelerate the pace of industrial adjustment, it is necessary to change the export-oriented industrial development mode. At present, China’s yarn and clothing imports are increasing. .
The promotion of the domestic One Belt and One Road policy has accelerated the transfer of production capacity outwards. At present, regional structural adjustment is rapidly extending from the clothing industry to the textile industry.
Turkey and Greece have advantages in branding and fashion design. We hope that both parties will strengthen close cooperation, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and achieve high-quality development of the textile industry! </p
