Textile exporters see banner year ahead

Turkey's textile exports outpaced pre-crisis numbers this year, and sector analysts predicted a "golden age" for the ready-wear and textile industries next year. "Our textile industry had a successful year and exceeded 2008 numbers. It has become the first industry to outpace pre-crisis export numbers," said Emre Kizilgunesler, head of the Aegean Ready-to-Wear and Clothing Exporters' Assembly. Exports in Turkey 's ready-wear and clothing industry, one of the driving engines of the country's export industries, totaled $15.7 billion in 2008, but dropped 15.5 percent to $13.2 billion in 2009. In 2010, they are expected to bounce back by around 13 percent to reach $15 billion. Kizilgunesler said the European market had recently shifted from Chinese manufacturers to Turkish textiles and clothing producers, after facing troubles with suppliers from Far Eastern countries. Kizilgunesler also praised the Central Bank's foreign exchange policy for helping to maintain Turkish exporters' competitive edge. "If this policy continues, Turkey will see a brighter year in 2011," he added. "In other words, if the CB continues to cut interest rates and foreign exchange rates rise to their real values, 2011 will be a golden age for our industries. I can't speak for the whole country's economy, but I can say the global economic crisis was tangential to Turkey 's textiles and clothing industries."