Turkey’s readymade clothing and apparel exports rose 4.6 per cent in the first 10 months of the year compared to the same period previous year. The aim is to reach $18 billion at the end of 2018 and $19 billion at the end of 2019. The apparel sector contributes 10.7 per cent to Turkey’s overall exports and 13.1 per cent to industrial exports.

The EU is the biggest market for Turkey’s ready-to-wear and apparel sector. This is followed by Germany, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, France, Iraq, the US, Italy, Denmark and Israel.

As for other markets, there was a 48 per cent increase in exports to Russia, one of Turkey’s largest trading partners, followed by a 30 per cent increase in exports to China, the world’s largest ready-to-wear supplier. Exports to Qatar rose by 102.4 per cent, by 65 per cent to Libya, 50 per cent to Slovakia, 40 per cent to Serbia, 35 per cent to Egypt, 28 per cent to Romania, 25 per cent to Albania and 24 per cent to Kazakhstan.

Turkey’s readymade clothing and apparel sector, which has assumed the role of a pioneer, does value added exports and contributes to employment and exports.