Textiles in H1 2026: $4.7B, 1.2M Tons — The Real Issue Lies in the Price per Kilogram

During the January–June period of 2026, Turkish textile producers shipped 1,226,764 tons of goods to 196 countries and free trade zones, generating $4,708,604,000 in export revenues. These figures are compiled from the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations (GAİB) dataset, released on July 27, 2026.

Fabric leads the product mix by a wide margin

Over the six-month period, the largest single export category was woven fabric: $2,874,418,000. It was followed by yarn at $1,217,683,000, and raw fiber at $616,503,000. In other words, the bulk of exports remains concentrated in intermediate goods rather than finished products where cumulative value-add resides.

Markets: Europe maintains weight, the United States accelerates

On a regional basis, the highest export volume went to European Union nations at $1,807,649,000. Africa grew by 4.9% to reach $764,376,000. In country rankings, Italy took first place with $385,836,000; the United States was the fastest-growing market at $301,270,000 with a 23.9% surge; Spain ranked third at $289,865,000, recording an 11.1% increase.

On a provincial basis, Istanbul led with $1,829,231,000; followed by Gaziantep at $779,981,000, Bursa at $626,714,000, and Kahramanmaraş at $375,120,000.

The core question behind the data: how much per kilogram?

Placing these two figures side by side reveals the sector's true performance scorecard. Dividing $4,708,604,000 by 1,226,764 tons yields approximately $3,838 per ton, or roughly $3.84 per kilogram. This calculation does not appear in official press releases; it represents the simple quotient of two official figures, provided transparently for readers to verify independently.

A price of $3.84 per kilogram is the hallmark level of an intermediate-heavy export basket. For mills operating across home textiles and drapery, the takeaway is clear: the goal is not expanding bulk tonnage, but extracting more dollars from the exact same kilogram — through finished goods, brand value, accredited certifications, and turnkey contract projects. The 23.9% growth in sales to the US reinforces this reality; positioning in that market is secured not through bottom-tier price wars, but through technical compliance documentation.

What does this signify for curtain and home textile producers?

With fabric accounting for nearly two-thirds of total turnover, our domestic supply chain effectively terminates at the fabric stage. The opportunity for curtain makers and upholsterers lies precisely here: rather than selling raw square meters, marketing tailored, sewn, motorized, and fully certified systems. European hotel and public tender compliance mandates are not obstacles complicating trade, but the primary catalysts driving realized prices upward.