Turkey’s cotton industry has taken a key step toward giving locally grown fiber a better shot in global supply chains after the National Cotton Council signed a cooperation protocol with Better Cotton Initiative at the Türkiye Cotton Summit in Izmir.
Turkey Cotton Council Signs Better Cotton Protocol
The agreement is aimed at moving Turkish cotton produced under Good Agricultural Practices closer to recognition as equivalent to the BCI standard, a move that could widen access to export markets, strengthen traceability and make the country’s fiber more attractive to global apparel brands facing tighter sustainability rules.
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That matters economically because cotton sits at the base of Turkey’s textile and ready-made clothing complex, one of the country’s biggest industrial earners. Industry officials at the summit said textile and apparel exports reached $26.2 billion in 2025, equal to 9.6% of Turkey’s merchandise exports, while the sector generated a $14 billion net trade surplus and employed 22% of industrial workers.
The push also comes as the industry faces weaker cotton production for a second straight season, higher costs and softer global demand. Turkish textile executives said the country’s advantage depends on keeping its vertically integrated chain — from cotton fields to yarn, fabric and fashion — competitive as buyers increasingly demand certified, traceable and lower-impact inputs.
Trade and agriculture officials said the protocol formalizes a national framework for sustainable cotton production, including crop-specific criteria, control points and certification backed by the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. They said the goal is to support growers with new market opportunities and pass the premium from certified production back to farmers.
For investors, the deal is another sign that sustainability standards are becoming a commercial necessity, not a marketing add-on, across apparel sourcing. It could help Turkish mills and garment makers defend market share in Europe, where sustainability criteria are tightening, and support domestic cotton demand if global brands accept the equivalence pathway.
The summit also underscored Turkey’s position as a major integrated supplier. Speakers said the country ranks fifth globally in textile and apparel production, eighth in cotton output, second in organic cotton and among the few countries able to produce cotton and convert it into finished clothing in one domestic chain.
The next test is whether the protocol translates into broader brand adoption, stronger farmgate returns and more stable cotton planting after two difficult seasons. If it does, Turkish cotton could gain a more durable place in premium sourcing channels just as the industry is being pushed to prove its sustainability credentials.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish cotton growers | ▲New market access | ▼Certification costs |
| Turkish textile makers | ▲Better sourcing story | ▼Higher compliance burden |
| Global apparel brands | ▲Traceable supply | ▼Fewer low-standard options |
| Foreign cotton rivals | ▲— | ▼Share in sustainable sourcing |
