The fabrics industry, in Turkish textiles market, has improved significantly in recent years, following the growing role of the Turkish clothing and home textiles industries in the world’s market during the last 20 years. Knitted fabrics mills are largely based in Istanbul, Bursa, Denizli, Kahramanmaras, Izmir, Gaziantep and Tekirdag making Turkey one of the world’s leading manufacturers of knitted fabrics. 1,000 + companies in the country are manufacturing in the knitted fabrics industry.

Today, Turkish knitted fabrics manufacturers are aware of the trend in international markets for environmentally friendly products and are working towards that goal. Many Turkish fabric manufacturers have ensured ecological labels for their products, including well-known eco-labels such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Organic Exchange and GOTS.

In 2017, Turkey imported $1.55 billion worth of knitted fabrics to over 130 countries. Exports increased by 3.6 per cent, as against 2016, making it 15.3 per cent of the total textiles exports from Turkey. During January-December 2017, Bulgaria became the most important country in terms of exports, with Turkey exporting knitted fabrics valued at $264 million.

Other important countries in terms of knitted fabrics exports are Italy, Romania and Greece. Exports to the EU, which have a share of 60 per cent in knitted fabrics exports, increased by 1.7 per cent in January-December 2017 and exports amounted to $930 million.