Textiles and apparel is the sector that directly determines demand for paper tubes. The data for the first half of 2026 signal a recovery after a difficult period.
The first-half picture
Türkiye's apparel exports fell by 2 per cent in the January–June 2026 period, reaching USD 7.98 billion. The sector has seen an export loss of roughly USD 5 billion over the past four years.
On the textiles and raw materials side, however, the picture is different: this group increased its exports compared with the same period last year.
The turn in June
The figure that stands out most came from June. Apparel exports across Türkiye rose by 15 per cent in that month. Industry representatives read this double-digit increase as a positive signal for the second half of the year.
Costs under pressure
The common emphasis from industry sources is that pressure on the cost side persists: increases in energy, petrochemical and logistics costs, together with uncertainty in global demand, are the prominent headings.
Three prominent axes
Three headings pointed to by industry representatives as key to competitiveness stand out: digitalisation, sustainability and value-added production.
Two of those three concern the supply chain directly. Sustainability raises the recyclability of the consumables used; value-added production brings efficiency and waste levels in the production process onto the agenda.
The view from the tube side
The tube used in yarn winding may look like a minor consumable, yet it directly affects the speed of the production line, the level of waste and the safety of shipments. A tube whose dimensions have been chosen incorrectly, or whose strength is insufficient, can lead to deformation during winding and loss of yarn.
In periods when cost pressure increases, choosing tubes of the correct dimensions and strength becomes all the more important for efficiency.
Sources: January–June 2026 export figures published by the sector's exporters' associations.