TEXTILE MACHINERY IN TURKEY 

Textile is one of the key sectors in the Turkish economy in terms of Gross Domestic

Product (GDP), employment and exports. Textiles and clothing sector accounts for 10% of

the Turkish GDP, employing almost 750.000 people. The value of production realized by

the textiles and clothing industry is around US $30 billion.

The strong textile industry in Turkey also stimulated the development of the textile

machinery industry. Nearly all the textile machinery used to be imported until 1980 when

some local production of small and medium-sized low-tech machinery began. At present,

the line of products manufactured by the companies varies substantially from highly

automated equipment to basic models. Local producers are able to compete with foreign

companies in most machinery categories such as atmospheric jet dyeing (overflow) or

blow dyeing machinery.

The majority of textile machinery manufacturers in Turkey range from small to mediumsized

companies mainly located in Istanbul. Due to the increase in demand for Turkish

textiles and clothing, especially for high-end products, textiles and clothing companies wish

to boost their production by installing more efficient and sophisticated machines with high

technology into their production lines. Turkish companies who are aware of this fact are in

search of joint ventures for this huge market. 

EXPORTS

Recently, Turkey has emerged as a machinery-maker with Turkish machinery industry

recording a substantial export performance between 2003 and 2011. Compared wi th

the export volume of US $1,6 billion in 2003, total export volume of Turkish machinery

industry reached an amount of US $7,7 billion in 2011, almost quadrupling in this period.

The share of textile machinery exports within Turkey’s total exports volume went up

from 3,4% in 2003 to 5,7% in 2011, showing an increase rate of more than 67%.

In parallel with the export performance of the Turkish machinery industry, textile

machinery exports have had an upward trend between 2003 and 2011. Compared

wi th the export volume of US $73 million in 2003, total export volume of textile machinery

industry reached an amount of US $291 million in 2011, almost quadrupling in this period.

The Turkish textile machinery industry has an integral role to play in the growth of

Turkish textiles industry. Besides supplying the domestic market, the textile machinery

industry is invaluable for Turkey thanks to its promising export potential. Turkish exports

of textile machinery consists mainly of machinery (other than machines under heading

8450) for washing, cleaning, wringing, drying, ironing, pressing (including fusing presses),

bleaching, dyeing, dressing, finishing, coating or impregnating textile yarns, fabrics or

made-up textile articles and machines for applying the paste to the base fabric or other

support used in the manufacture of floor coverings such as linoleum; machines for reeling,

unreeling, folding, cutting or pinking textile fabrics.

The Turkish textile machinery manufacturers/exporters follow European and

international standards and norms. It is obligatory to affix the “CE Mark” in the Turkish

market. 

At present, the Turkish textile machinery industry is the most modern in the Middle East,

North Africa, Balkans, Baltic and Central Asia, producing machinery and equipment

required for the textile industry along with all the parts and accessories.


The sector exports to about 140 countries. In 2011, the major export markets in order of rank were; India,

Ethiopia, UK, Uzbekistan, France, Iran and Germany. High engineering skills, product

flexibility, continuous product development, adaptation and efficient after-sales services

enable Turkey to export Turkish-made textile machinery to all over the world at an

increasing rate. 

TRADE FAIRS 

The products of the Turkish textile machinery industry are exhibited in international and

national fairs organized in Turkey.

Trade fairs relating to textile machinery are listed on the “Turkey Fair Guide” in the web

page of TOBB (Union and Chambers of Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) at

http://www.fuarrehberi.org.tr/ or http://www.tobb.org.tr/fuar/eng.

USEFUL LINKS

»􀂃 General Secretariat of Central Anatolian Exporters’ Union

www.oaib.org.tr 

􀂃» Machinery and Accessories Exporters’ Union

www.makinebirlik.com 

»Turkish Machinery Promotion Group

www.makinetanitimgrubu.com.tr 

􀂃 »Turkish Quality of Machinery

www.turqum.com

􀂃» Istanbul Minerals and Metals Exporters’ Associations (IMMIB)

www.immib.org.tr 

» Construction Equipment Distributors and Manufacturers Union

www.imder.org.tr 

Tags: textile machinery sector, textile machinery industry , Turkey,textile machinery in Turkey