Mustafa Senocak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (IDMIB), said, “By breaking the all-time record in August last month, our sub-sector with the most exports was footwear with $90 million. We achieved an increase of 65% in the shoe industry compared to the same month of the previous year.”
According to the information compiled by AA correspondent from the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), leather and leather products exports, which were $97 million 893 thousand in August 2020, increased by 60.5% in the same period of this year and reached $157 million 80 thousand. In the 8 months of the year, the sector achieved foreign sales of $1 billion 95 million 217 thousand with an increase of 27.8% compared to the same period of 2020.
The share of the sector in Turkey’s total exports was 0.8% last month.
The country to which the leather and leather products sector exports the most in August was recorded as Russia. Last month, $15 million 565 thousand were exported to Russia. Russia was followed by Germany with $8 million 903 thousand and Italy with $8 million 748 thousand.
“WE MADE THE MOST EXPORT OF FOOTWEAR IN JANUARY-AUGUST PERIOD”
Mustafa Senocak, Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (IDMIB), said that the first 3 countries to which they exported the most last month, they saw 148% increase in exports to Russia, 12% to Germany and 62% to Italy.
Noting that they exported to 167 countries last month, Senocak stated that during this period, exports to OECD countries with high purchasing power and stable economies increased by 24% compared to the same period of the previous year and reached $512 million.
Senocak stated that they exported $408 million to EU countries with an increase of 18% and said, “The country to which we exported the most in the 8 months of 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year was Russia with an increase of 32% and $91 million. Again in this period, we exported $82 million to Germany, $61 million to Italy, $56 million to Iraq and $50 million to Spain.”
Senocak also made the following assessments regarding sub-product groups:
“By breaking the all-time record in August last month, our sub-sector, which realized the most exports, was footwear with $90 million. We achieved a 65% increase in the shoe industry compared to the same month of the previous year. Again in August, we realized exports worth $26 million with an increase of 35% in the leather and fur clothing industry, $21 million with an increase of 104% in the semi-finished finished leather and processed fur industry, and $19 million in the saddlery industry with an increase of 46%.
In the January-August period, our sub-sector, which realized the most exports, was footwear. In this period, we reached $674 million of exports with an increase of 24% in shoes. Again, in this period, we realized an export of $163 million with an increase of 53% in the semi-finished finished leather and processed fur sector, $143 million with an increase of 33% in the saddlery sector, and $113 million in the leather and fur clothing sector with an increase of 13%.”
“WE ARE NO. 1 IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF PRODUCT QUALITY”
Gurkan Gozmen, the President of the Turkish Leather Confectioners Association (TDKD), stated that the leather and fur garment industry made exports of $113 million with an increase of 17% last month.
Noting that Turkey continues to produce and sell what it produces regardless of the negative effects of the epidemic, with all its exporting sectors, Gozmen said, “Our leather, fur and apparel industry, which works entirely with a focus on production and exports, continues to contribute to the total exports of our country. At this point, I would like to underline once again that domestic and international fairs have a direct impact on exports.”
Gozmen emphasized that Turkey is the world’s number 1 in terms of product quality in leather products, and said:
“Russia is always one of our important export markets for us, but I believe that we should enter alternative markets while strengthening our presence in this country. As TDKD, we are in a comprehensive study on this issue. This year, we will present our members with our guideline work that will determine new routes in exports.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz