The Southeast Anatolian Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association (GATHİB) put textile exports from its region at 3 billion 26 million 571 thousand dollars in January–October 2026, shipped to 187 countries. The board, chaired by Mete Akcan, met to assess October 2026 figures and the ten-month performance, and the association said the total was 9.6 percent above the same period of 2025.
October shipments by members came to 310 million 531 thousand dollars. According to Akcan, that confirmed a recovery in the sector was continuing steadily, despite wars in the region and worldwide, the logistics difficulties they bring and rising costs, which he said had made competition in global markets harder.
By destination group, the European Union took the largest share over the ten months at 843 million 878 thousand dollars, the association reported. Middle Eastern countries followed at 724 million 614 thousand dollars, African countries at 361 million 734 thousand dollars and the Americas at 300 million 302 thousand dollars.
Iraq was the biggest single market at 287 million 127 thousand dollars, ahead of the United Kingdom at 265 million 498 thousand dollars and Syria at 225 million 428 thousand dollars, according to the statement.
On 23 October 2026 the association held the final of its sixth Doku Fabric Design Competition and hosted a meeting of the Textile and Raw Materials Sector Board the same day. Its board members also joined the Delegates Workshop organised by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Akcan said.
Akcan added that the association would continue working to raise exports, diversify target markets and carry members' products into a wider set of destinations.
Sources
Photo: Knopfundknopf Dugme Aksesuar Ltd.Sti. collection by Knopfundknopf Dugme Aksesuar Ltd.Sti., a member of the TurkishFashion.net directory. Courtesy of Knopfundknopf Dugme Aksesuar Ltd.Sti. (view the collection).
