University of Westminster

Declines in the market of domestic and export of Turkey clothing sector:
During the pandemic, the textile and clothing industry, one of the main sectors of the Turkish economy, suffered the most. Textile and manufacturing fell from 20% to 14%, respectively, in February after the official arrival of the coronavirus in Turkey, according to the Turkish Statistical University, while the overall decline in the industry was 7.5%. These results were not expected to improve until June. After 11 out of break coronavirus in Turkey, the amount of money spent on clothing according to the central bank's hybrid decreased by 64%. The main reason for this was the focus of the population on the purchase of food and health and care, cleaning products. The increase in the domestic market was reflected in the decline in exports. The clothing sector, which accounts for 15% of Turkey's exports, is equal to car exports. In January and February, Turkey sold $ 3 billion worth of goods to foreign markets, but this figure fell to 40% in May and April. Meanwhile, some clothing stores have even been forced to close, for example, Boyner and Blue. Shops reopened in Turkey on May 11 with the movement of shopping malls, a move that could have pleased tenants but worried sellers. The reason for this was that the domestic market was still sluggish and tourists had not returned. While 52 million tourists visited Turkey last year, the sharp decline in the number of tourists in the Pandemic was bound to have a significant impact on domestic trade.


Unemployment in Turkish clothing industry
Demand for consumer clothing fell sharply during the pandemic, leading to thousands of people losing their jobs not only in Turkey but throughout Central Asia. In addition, fiber and cotton suppliers and all sectors involved in the process suffered equally. In Istanbul, 68% of Turkish clothing is produced and 49% of workers are employed in the clothing sector. Istanbul is a wholesale and retail center with a capacity of 100,000 employees. The onset of the pandemic had a serious impact on employment. The majority of the unemployed are unregistered workers, such as refugees and illegal immigrants, who live on very low wages.