Cotton Council International Turkey Program Director Marsha Powell has shared her thoughts about the most indispensable products of the textile industry and its’ position in US, Turkey and the rest of the world. Regarding the exchange rates and fluctuations in the US cotton and its’ effects to Turkish Textile sectors in terms of cotton that is analyzed by Marsha Powell, who has underlined the importance of reading signs to plan for changes in foreign currency. The industry has accumulated experiences in buying-selling that have stressed by Ms. Marsha who said ‘Since 2011, the different steps of the cotton supply chain have become accustomed to averaging cotton prices which helps their financial planning. However, serious cotton price fluctuations in 2011 and their negative effects have been recovered by the sector. While buying with the exchange rate, you can balance with export products when your sales are sufficient. I think Turkish entrepreneurs are experienced and strict in this matter.
'No one in the textile sector is satisfied with this verdict'
Yarn producers who have paid 3% tax on cotton, which they imported from USA for the last 2 years, cannot import within the DIR (Internal Processing Regime) since 18 May. "It is clear that no one is happy with the 3 percent tax imposed on US cotton imports, and we know that this is a political decision’’, Mrs. Marsha said in a statement.
she also said that ‘’ Turkish ready-to-wear manufacturers demand low contamination, especially for sales to the EU market. The products they manufacture use US cotton to meet their customers’ demand. Heavy taxes on imported raw materials can affect cost. An additional cost of 3 percent cannot be compensated. I think this is sad situation that penalizes the Turkish Textile sector’’
'Turkish cotton has its own market place’
"Turkish cotton producers have shaped the approach of the GMO issue, in line with the biosafety laws of the country. I do not deal directly with Turkish cotton so it is very difficult to comment on the quality of Turkish cotton. I do not see US cotton as a competitor Turkish counterparts. Turkish cotton has an important place in the local market and it has its’ own market position. It is known fact that cotton is divided into three general categories; short fibers, medium fibers and long and extra-long fibers. Turkish cotton is generally a medium fiber, but you need long or extra long cotton to produce very fine yarns or very thin fabrics. Extra long cotton or US pima cotton, it is mostly produced in California. US long stable cotton is very similar to Aegean cotton. Production in the Agean region has been declining in recent years. Companies that want to use long-fiber cotton are realizing their imports from US"
'The 2020 Conference is a Great Opportunity'
The world cotton conference held in a different country every year and will be organized in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2018. I will attend as a participant. The World Cotton Research Conference will be held in Izmir in 2020. This organization, it is important to recognize Turkey as an important cotton producer. This conference is creating business opportunities via bringing the world cotton market to Turkey where Turks have an opportunity to exhibit technological developments. I think this is a great opportunity for us. It is known fact that Turkey is an important supplier in textile and apparel industries that creates world of opportunities globally.
