Turkey's apparel sector sets $19B export target in 2020

Turkey's apparel sector, which sold goods worth $17.7 billion to foreign countries in 2019, seeks to increase its exports to $19 billion this year, the head of a sector association said on Monday.

The sector's share in the country's overall exports of $14.8 billion in January 2020 was 10.1%, Mustafa Gultepe, the head of the Istanbul Apparel Exporters Association (IHKIB), told Anadolu Agency.

He said that the apparel sector had made a "flying start" by reaching an export figure of $1.5 billion in January, up by 5.8% in the same month last year.

Highlighting that the increase in exports was a success amid narrowing markets worldwide, he said: "Increasing our exports by 7.7% to the EU, our biggest market, raises our hopes."

Gultepe said that of the country's total apparel exports in January, 73.4% were to EU countries with Germany and Spain being the main destinations.

The apparel sector also exports goods valued around $700 million to the U.S. every year, which, he said, could reach $5 billion.

Turkey's garment exports are projected to rise by 10% due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has delayed shipments from the mainland.

"However, if the crisis prolongs and global markets shrink, our exports could have a negative impact," the association said.