Turkish exporters sell footwear to 172 countries

İZMİR

Turkey sells footwear to 172 countries across the world, according to an industry organization that says sales hit $602 million in the first nine months.

“The U.S. has a very high purchasing power and we export $10 million in shoes to this country. There is an increase in our exports with respect to previous years but it must increase much more,” the Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association Chairman Jak Galiko told state-run Anadolu agency.

Galiko pointed out the fact that the U.S. imports $30 billion in shoes and that shoes were the most important goods in the leather industry.

The head of the Footwear Industrialists Association of Turkey Süleyman Gürsoy drew attention to the importance of Turkey’s geographical location.

Iraq tops Turkey’s shoe export market with $74,686,000.

“For years, we export shoes to Iraq and it is at the top of our clients. Despite the internal disorder in Syria, our exports to this country also continue,” he said.

He said Turkey’s most important export markets have always been its neighbors.

Following Iraq, Russia is our second biggest export market with $56,274,000.

He said recently, the Russian market had made a quick return to its good old days.“We produce collections quicker than the big producer countries. They choose us because we work fast and deliver the shoes much quicker,” he said.

“The world shoe market has a capacity of $133 billion. Our shoe sector can make $3 billion in exports in the coming periods and this is definitely a dream,” he said.

“We go everywhere in the world and build relations. This directly reflects on exports,” he said about the enterprising qualifications of Turkish exporters.

He said Turkish shoemakers were especially heading towards the markets where China is weak in.

The head of Aegean Shoes Industrialists Association Faruk Hanoğlu gave information about the type of shoes Turkey sells to the world.

“We mostly sell shoes used for daily use and classic models,” he said“The support given by the Economy Ministry for fairs contributes to the increase in exports. We started collecting their fruits. If they also continue in the coming years, Turkish shoes will take a bigger place in the world market,” he said.

“It is very important to become a brand in the sector. If the Turkish shoe producers can become brands, we can earn much more from the same products,” he added.

Hanoğlu said the increase in shoe exports will continue and they aim for $3 billion in exports in 2020.