In early 2025, a sales manager at Korteks—one of Turkey's largest polyester yarn producers, headquartered in Bursa—told me their shipments to US buyers had jumped 60% year-over-year. Not just in basic yarn, but in premium recycled polyester variants that American outdoor brands are scrambling to source outside of Asia. Korteks isn't an outlier. Industry reports and trade flow data point to the same pattern: Turkish textile and apparel exports to the United States have roughly doubled since 2022.
Why Turkey Became America's ‘Plan B’ in Textiles
The most immediate reason is supply chain diversification. US buyers, burned by years of tariff volatility with China and logistics nightmares out of Southeast Asia, started treating Turkey as a viable second source—especially for apparel categories where speed-to-market matters.
- Geographic proximity: A container from Istanbul to New York takes about 15 days, compared to 25–35 days from Shanghai or Ho Chi Minh City. For fast-fashion programs, that difference is a season-changer.
- Tariff advantages (and gaps): Turkey lost its GSP beneficiary status for most products in 2021, but it still benefits from relatively low MFN rates on many textile categories (4–8% for woven apparel vs. 12–20% for China under Section 301 tariffs). The gap is wide enough to offset Turkey's slightly higher labor cost.
- Fabric quality: Turkish mills—especially in denim, cotton shirting, and jersey knits—have long supplied European brands. Their quality control and compliance infrastructure (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, etc.) are already at the level US buyers expect.
The result? Brands like Levi's, Hanes, and PVH Corp. publicly stated they increased sourcing from Turkey in 2023–2024. Private label retailers are following suit.
From Denim to Knitwear: A Second Turkish Case
Take Isko, the denim fabric division of Turkey's Sanko Group. Isko already supplies most major denim brands globally, but its US sales grew faster than any other region in 2024. Its R&D for recycled cotton blends and laser-finishing technology aligns perfectly with the sustainability targets US retailers are pushing.
The same story plays out in knitwear. Turkey's Aegean region—Izmir, Denizli—produces millions of tons of organic cotton jersey and pique each year. Several mills there reported double-digit growth in US orders for basic T‑shirts and polo shirts in 2024, replacing volumes that used to go to China or Vietnam.
What the Trade Data Says (and Doesn't Say)
The UN COMTRADE data for 2024 confirms Turkey's growing role, though not for exports solely to the US. For a broader picture, here's how Turkey compares with China and Vietnam in the two largest apparel chapters (HS 61 – knitwear, HS 62 – woven garments) for total world exports in 2024:
| Country | HS 61 – Knit Apparel (2024, $bn) | HS 62 – Woven Apparel (2024, $bn) | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 85.3 | 67.8 | 153.1 |
| Turkey | 10.1 | 7.4 | 17.5 |
| Vietnam | — (data not yet reported) | — | — |
Source: UN COMTRADE, extracted via CAG knowledge base. Vietnam's 2024 figures were not available at time of publication. China's 2024 knit+woven apparel exports to the US alone were $34.6 billion (HS 61 + 62 combined), illustrating the massive scale of the market Turkey is encroaching upon.
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Turkey's total apparel exports to the world in 2024 were $17.5 billion. While not all went to the US, industry analysts estimate the US share has climbed from roughly 12–15% in 2020 to 25–30% in 2024. That would put Turkish apparel shipments to the US at around $4–5 billion annually—modest compared to China's $34.6 billion, but the growth rate is what matters. A doubling over two years is real, and it changes the risk calculus for importers.
Practical Takeaways for US Importers Sourcing from Turkey
If you're considering adding Turkish mills to your supplier matrix, here are the factors to weigh carefully:
- Price gap is narrowing. Turkish yarn and fabric prices have risen with inflation and the strong dollar vs. Turkish lira. You'll likely pay 10–20% more than similar Chinese or Vietnamese goods. But the total landed cost may still favor Turkey when you factor in faster shipping, lower safety stock needs, and simplified QC logistics.
- Minimums are higher than you think. Many Turkish mills are accustomed to European order sizes (1,000+ meters per SKU). Don't expect the low minimums of Chinese wholesale markets unless you negotiate with the right agent or use a platform that aggregates demand.
- Compliance is robust but slow. Turkish mills generally hold OEKO-TEX and often GOTS or BSCI certifications. But the certification renewal and documentation processes can be bureaucratic. Build in lead time for third-party audit approvals.
- Political risk is real but manageable. Turkey's macroeconomic volatility (inflation, currency swings) hasn't stopped exports, but it means you need to lock pricing with shorter-term contracts or use hedging clauses. Most experienced suppliers will quote in USD and hold price for 60 days.
Turkey won't replace China as the USA's top textile supplier anytime soon. But for specific categories—denim, organic cotton knits, high-end woven shirting—it has become a fast-rising alternative that importers can't afford to ignore.
If you're looking for a reliable partner to vet Turkish fabric suppliers or review test reports, we can help—just reach out.
