Timely talks in Turkey
In the past five years, nonwovens production in Turkey has grown at a much faster rate than anywhere else in the world – incredibly, at more than twice that seen in China.
Additionally, whilst in 2014 woven sacks and bags accounted for Turkey’s largest export sales in all non-apparel textile-related markets, in 2015 they too have also been overshadowed by nonwovens.
This made EDANA’s 2nd Turkish Nonwovens Symposium held in Istanbul from November 10-11 2015 extremely timely, and the event attracted 250 participants and 30 exhibitors, representing 121 companies from 24 countries.
Bora Kocaman of the Adana Chamber of Commerce and Bekir Aslaner of the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters Association outlined the importance of the textiles and clothing industry to Turkey. Of all the manufacturing industries, it is the country’s biggest employer and the largest generator of value-added products. Some 424,000 people are employed in the textile industry at over 17,000 companies, while a further 485,000 people work in the clothing industry, at approaching 34,000 companies. It is also the biggest investor in technology and achieved export sales of $29.9 billion in 2014 – 47% of which were to the European Union – with a trade surplus of $16.4 billion.
A major advantage, of course, is Turkey’s proximity to the EU market, along with its highly-integrated industry structure.
As far as non-apparel technical textiles are concerned, in 2014 Turkey exported nonwovens worth $353.8 million, which are growing fast. Other big Turkish export products include tyre cords and coated fabrics, glass fibre fabrics and waddings and felts, many of which will also be nonwoven-based.
Nonwovens are also by far the biggest imported non-apparel textile sector, with Turkey buying product worth $270 million in 2014.
Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs Director, said that between 2009 and 2014 nonwovens production in Turkey grew by an annual 20.3% to reach 265,000 tonnes, representing 12% of the Greater European output. To put this into context, China’s annual rate of growth in nonwovens production was 9.4% over the same period, albeit from a much higher base point, and that of the EU28 countries just 2.9%.
Equally healthy, are Turkey’s exports of nonwoven-based absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), which saw annual growth of 15.5% between 2009 and 2014.
Here, however, the destination of products is markedly different to that of the textiles and clothing industry, although again, Turkey’s geographical location provides it with a strong advantage.
Iraq was Turkey’s biggest market for AHPs in 2014, followed by a number of other Middle Eastern countries and it was suggested that Africa will be a huge market going forward.
Michel Verstraeten and Miray Solmaz, from adhesives supplier Henkel, said that the current consumption of baby diapers in Africa was around 18 billion products each year, but that the potential was around 155 billion.
Around 65% of all AHPs sold in Africa are currently imported, with a huge number of products coming from China, despite the fact that most countries apply high import duties on such products.
The key markets where the most growth in AHPs is expected in the near term include Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Tanzania.
As far as Turkey’s domestic AHP market is concerned, Arzu Karatekin of Hayat Kimya said that as in many other countries, the biggest growth in the coming years will be in adult incontinence products.
While the country’s population is young by European standards, 20% of its population is currently over 50 and by 2020 this figure will have risen to 26%. By 2040, it will be 40%.
Meanwhile, the penetration of adult incontinence products is currently only 6.5%, and while it is predicted to climb to 12% by 2020, there is still a huge market remaining to be captured.
“The 2015 EDANA Turkish Nonwovens Symposium reinforced trading links in nonwovens between regions which need each other,” said Pierre Wiertz, EDANA’s General Manager. “This supports the development of new markets for our industry’s products that bring value and benefits to society.”
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