Türkiye's apparel exports slip 1.9% to $10.67bn in January–August 2026

Türkiye's apparel exports declined 1.88% year on year to $10.671 billion in January–August 2026, compared with $10.882 billion in the same period of 2025, according to an analysis by Fibre2Fashion of data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and the Ministry of Trade, published on 1 October.

Both main product groups lost ground. Exports of knitted garments (HS 61) fell 1.1% to $5.111 billion, while woven apparel (HS 62) dropped 2.9% to $5.560 billion. In August alone, combined knitted and woven exports came to about $1.111 billion, down from $1.133 billion in August 2025.

Fibre2Fashion attributed the weakness to subdued demand in Europe, cautious buying by brands and price competition from lower-cost sourcing hubs.

At the same time, Turkish manufacturers continue to expand production in Egypt. On 26 September, Daily News Egypt reported that Commercial International Bank (CIB) had agreed $80 million of financing for Eroglu Knitting, a subsidiary of Türkiye's Eroglu Global Holding, for a $140 million garment complex in the Qantara West industrial zone. The plant will be 100% export-oriented, with half of its output destined for Europe and 30% for the United States, according to the report.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

Türkiye is Egypt's closest competitor for fast, flexible garment supply to Europe, and a continued slide in Turkish exports keeps European buyers looking for alternative near-sourcing options. Egypt's duty-free access to the EU and the growing Turkish investment in Egyptian capacity put its factories in a strong position to capture some of these orders. Egyptian exporters targeting brands that have traditionally sourced from Türkiye should be actively presenting their lead times and quality credentials now.