Turkey has emerged the fourth largest denim exporter in the world. This has been made possible by investments made in the 1980s and subsequent projects. The country has a two per cent share in denim fabric exports and a seven per cent share in denim clothing exports. Proximity to Europe is a geographical advantage. Also since speed is a crucial part of production, industrialists who could adapt to the requested capacity and quality standards have achieved success in production and export without difficulty.

Turkey’s textile industry is looking for greener pastures outside its traditional radar. The country is looking at markets which have a large middle-class consumer base. Turkey once produced clothing for foreign brands. It has now become a country that creates its own brands and directs world denim fashion with its designs and technological products. Global firms are carrying out their production activities in countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Italy, Morocco, and Bangladesh because of the cost advantage. So Turkey’s denim fabric exports to these countries have increased.

China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Italy, Mexico, the US, Tunisia and Egypt are prominent markets for Turkey’s denim fabric exports. The US, the EU, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark are priority target markets for denim clothing.