Turkey’s textile and apparel sector is raising alarm, with around 300 companies filing for concordat, according to industry representatives.
The sector, a major employer, is facing factory closures, layoffs and weakening exports, particularly to Europe. Industry estimates show up to 300,000 job losses over the past two years, while many factories have cut capacity to 30–40% or suspended production.
Rising costs, tight financing conditions and currency pressures have weakened competitiveness against lower cost producers such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, prompting some firms to relocate production abroad, including to Egypt.
Industry leaders warn the downturn has become structural rather than cyclical, calling for easier access to financing, low-interest investment loans, exchange rate stability and expanded export incentives. Without investment in technology, branding, technical textiles and sustainable production, they say, recovery will be difficult.
