Foreign sales of leather and fur garments, which have a significant share in the export of leather and leather products, reached $50 million in the first 4 months with an increase of 23% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Guven Karaca, President of Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (IDMIB), participated in the 10th Leather and Fur Fashion Show (Leather & Fur Fashion Show) organized by the Turkish Leather Garments Association in Antalya, he told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the leather and fur garment industry has a very important place in the leather and leather products industry.
Pointing out that leather and fur apparel is a sector with high added value, Karaca said, “The export value per kilogram in leather and leather products is $10.2, and this figure goes up to $118 in leather and fur apparel. Our main target is value-added product, export of value-added products and their contribution to our country. As an industry, we are already the 4th most valuable exporting industry. The leather and fur garment industry helps and supports us a lot in this regard.”
Karaca stated that they closed the last year with exports of $2.58 billion in leather and its products, adding that they started this year with anxiety, but the figures were pleasing.
Expressing that the value per kilogram in exports has increased from $9.2 to $10.2, Karaca said, “The leather and fur garment industry showed an increase of 23% with $50 million in the first 4 months. Every year we start with anxiety, but our industry and exporters are very dynamic.”
Export worldwide with e-commerce
Indicating that the export figures of other leather and leather products sectors such as shoes and leather goods, apart from leather and fur garments, have increased, Karaca stated that they aim to close the year with approximately $2.5 billion in general.
Stating that they export their leather and products to 163 countries and increase the number of countries day by day, Karaca said:
“Today, e-commerce has also come to the fore. We also look at the statistics when determining the target countries, where can we export the most, who is the most buyer? We look at these. E-commerce has exceeded $5 trillion and it is aimed to exceed $10 trillion in 5 years. We say, ‘Our goal with e-commerce is the world, not the country.’ In this context, we established the e-commerce committee and it continues its activities.”
“Exports increased despite the main markets Russia and Ukraine war”
Gurkan Gozmen, Chairman of the Turkish Leather Confectioners Association (TDKD), said that they closed last year with $236 million in leather apparel.
Stating that Russia and Ukraine constitute the main markets for leather and fur apparel, Gozmen said, “Despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, our industry has achieved an increase of 23%. The loss in Russia was subsidized by the sector’s diversion into different markets, especially with the significant increases in the USA and European Union countries.”
Pointing out that leather and fur garments are an important component of leather and its products, Gozmen noted that only 5% of imports are realized in the sector, and that it is a sector with a surplus of exports in general.
Noting that leather and fur garments are exported to more than 50 countries, Gozmen said, “Although our products are intended for countries with cold climates, we are able to sell products to almost every country thanks to our product diversity and tannery infrastructure. The success of our friends in marketing is also undeniable.”
Target of $300 million for the end of the year
Gozmen stated that as a sector, they have an important potential in the world and come to the fore in terms of quality.
Stating that they aim to achieve a balanced and stable growth in exports, Gozmen said, “We closed last year with $236 million, this year we aim to reach $300 million with an increase of approximately 20%. We do not expect huge jumps, because the product we use is completely obtained from the waste products that people eat. “It is very difficult to reach this product when there is a very serious demand. We do not slaughter animals to make a jacket. The more people consume, the more jackets we can make.”
Pointing out that the low exchange rate is the biggest factor that weakens the competitiveness of exporters in the international market, Gozmen said that low foreign currency cannot be tolerated in the face of increasing costs.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz