Investments Stopped, Imports Grounded
According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), textile machinery imports stood at $553.3 million in the January-April period of 2024, but this figure decreased by 16.5% to $462 million in the same period of 2025.
This sharp decline reveals that Turkish textile manufacturers are not making new investments from the bottom and are holding efforts to expand their production capacity.
European Manufacturers Losing Market
European based textile machinery manufacturers have felt the greatest impact. The market contraction has sharply reduced the sales figures of European-based manufacturers, whom operating with high pricing policies. Turkish manufacturers are now turning to Far Eastern manufacturers to minimize investment costs.
Far Eastern Brands Stand Out
When 2025 import data is examined; while Far Eastern countries like China, India, and Taiwan managed to maintain their sales across segments, European companies experienced significant losses in almost all segments.
Energy and exchange rate pressures, and declining profitability led Turkish manufacturers to more cost-effective solutions. This shifted the market's center of gravity to the east.
Pricing Policy Mistakes Impactful
European companies' inflexibility in price, even during the economic downturn, increased Turkish buyers' reliance on Far Eastern technologies. This situation accelerated not only current sales losses but also the future market share loss of European brands.
The Real Question: Can Europe Regain This Market?
Many industry representatives are raising the question, "Will European manufacturers be able to return when the market recovers?" New Far Eastern brands, having entered the market today with price and accessibility advantages, have already begun to establish lasting customer relationships.
The industry openly acknowledges that the high profit expectations and inflexible strategies of European based manufacturers in the past have significantly contributed to this loss.
The Future of the Industry: Domestic and Foreign Collaborations or Technological Separation?
Experts emphasize that if Türkiye returns to a period of strong investment, existing players will no longer be sufficient on their own. Brands that collaborate with domestic manufacturers and differentiate themselves with their technology and service capability will come to the fore.
From the second half of 2025 onward, manufacturers especially offering innovative, energy-efficient, and automated solutions may gain an advantage.
Who Resist A Change in Strategy Will Suffer
Turkish textile manufacturers' investment decisions depend on multidimensional dynamics such as exchange rates, profitability, energy costs, and raw material supply.
In this process, opportunities still remain for European manufacturers, but a solution-oriented approach, not price-led approach, will be the determining factor.
The return of the old order to the market appears unlikely, as the market has already opened its doors to new players.
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