Turkey's apparel industry does not expect an export recovery before 2026, according to a report by Hürriyet Daily News, setting the sector's turnaround horizon firmly after the current stretch of weak foreign sales.

The sector's outlook, as framed by industry representatives cited in the report, positions 2026 as the year when shipment volumes can rebound — an expectation that suppliers and buyers alike will need to factor into capacity planning, order books and pricing negotiations through 2025.

Why does the sector point to 2026 rather than 2025?

The report describes an industry that has weathered a prolonged export downturn, with companies across the Turkish apparel base holding out for improved conditions rather than banking on a near-term rebound. Sector players see the demand environment recovering gradually, with 2026 marking the point at which export performance can meaningfully pick up.

For sourcing executives, the timeline matters. If Turkish suppliers are programming capacity and costing on the assumption that volumes stay soft into 2025, brands negotiating programs for next season should expect factories to prioritize order security, payment terms and utilization over aggressive price competition.

What does this mean for buyers sourcing from Turkey?

Turkey remains a nearshore option for European brands seeking shorter lead times, and the export pause sharpens the calculus on both sides:

• Capacity: factories absorbing weaker export volumes may offer more flexible slots and faster turnaround for committed programs.
• Pricing: prolonged softness can support negotiating leverage for buyers, but cost inflation across energy, labor and inputs limits how far mills and garment makers can cut.
• Planning horizon: the 2026 recovery expectation implies buyers locking in 2025 programs now may secure terms that tighten once volumes rebound.

Hürriyet Daily News reports the industry's position as a collective expectation rather than a measured forecast tied to specific order data — a distinction sourcing teams should keep in mind when weighing the outlook against their own demand signals.

Who carries the risk if the rebound slips?

An industry-wide bet on 2026 concentrates risk with manufacturers. If demand recovers later than expected, factories that hold capacity and labor through 2025 in anticipation of the upturn will bear the carrying costs. If it arrives earlier, brands may face allocation pressure and firmer prices as suppliers re-prioritize.

The report does not attach a volume figure or percentage target to the projected rebound, and no single company order is cited as evidence — the expectation rests on the sector's read of demand conditions.

For now, Turkish apparel exporters are managing through the downturn with 2026 in sight, and buyers planning spring/summer 2026 programs will be negotiating with suppliers who believe the market turns in their favor next year.