The Middle East was the second largest region for Turkiye's apparel exports in the first quarter of 2023. However, its share is relatively small compared to Europe, which is Turkiye's largest market. During the quarter in question, Turkiye exported apparel totalling $4.929 billion. The shipments to the Middle East were valued at $457.148 million, which represented 9.47 per cent of the total exports.

According to insights from Fibre2Fashion's market tool TexPro, Europe remained the dominant market for Turkiye's apparel exports. These exports were worth $3,607.258 million, accounting for 74.70 per cent of the total shipments.

Exports from Turkiye to the Middle East have grown 15.41 per cent since the corresponding period last year when the trade was valued at $396.118 million. It's noteworthy that trade had previously declined in the same quarter for two consecutive years. Specifically, it dropped 21.64 per cent to $412.905 million in Q1 2020, then further decreased by 16.42 per cent to $345.126 million in Q1 2021. However, this trend reversed in the following year's same quarter.

By the first four months of 2023, Turkiye's exports to the Middle East had reached $549.646 million. The previous year, 2022, saw exports valued at $1,550.490 million. This was an increase from $1,461.320 million in 2021 and $1,291.493 million in 2020. However, it still fell short of the $1,804.214 million recorded in 2019, as per TexPro.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

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Middle East 2nd largest market for Turkiye's apparel exports in Q1 202

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