Turkish textile and apparel companies are continuing to expand production in Egypt, and the investment is no longer limited to garment making. According to an Ekonomim report published on 20 October 2026, Turkish investors have moved from yarn, fabric, dyeing and finishing into recycled fibre production as well.
The report places this expansion against a difficult backdrop at home, where the industry is contracting under high production costs, tight financing and international competition. New capacity in Egypt, it notes, now spans the chain from garment making to spinning, dyeing and finishing.
A new step in recycling
Öner Tekstil announced that it has started up a recycled fibre operation in Egypt. The company said it was bringing 30 years of textile-to-textile recycling experience to the country, with the aim of reaching a wider product range under competitive market conditions. Ekonomim reads the move as a sign that Egypt is now attracting Turkish firms not only for low-cost garment production but also for turning textile waste back into usable raw material.
Turkish presence in Egypt by the numbers
- According to a 16 June 2026 statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Industry, GID Textile Egypt aims to lift its exports from the country to $285 million by the end of 2026 and to $500 million in 2029-2030. The group, linked to Yeşim Group’s Jade Textile, operates three production sites in Egypt with around 15,000 employees.
- Citing Egyptian press reports, Ekonomim says the Qantara West industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone hosted 15 Turkish investments worth about $560.2 million as of April 2026.
- At the Egypt Stitch & Tex 2026 fair in September, Türkiye’s ambassador in Cairo said around 10 Turkish companies were planning textile and apparel operations in Egypt; no company names or investment sizes were given.
- İTHİB data show Türkiye’s textile exports to Egypt rose from $461 million in 2024 to $567 million in 2025, up 23%. In January-September this year they climbed by more than 12% year on year to $476 million.
Machinery makers see the same trend
European textile machinery suppliers active in Egypt confirm the movement. Germany’s Oerlikon Barmag said many Turkish companies have relocated part of their production to Egypt or expanded capacity there, and noted that Chinese investors are also developing large textile projects in the country. Xorella, which makes dyeing, finishing and yarn machinery, likewise said Turkish manufacturers are building new factories in Egypt.
What it means for brands and suppliers
Egypt’s cost advantage is already showing up in offers to the Turkish market: the report says basic 30/1 cotton T-shirts made in Egypt are being offered delivered to Türkiye from $1.80. Ekonomim also notes that the growth of Turkish operations in Egypt is feeding through to bilateral textile trade, with Türkiye’s textile exports to Egypt rising markedly over the past two years. For brands planning their sourcing, the takeaway is that the regional production map is shifting, with Turkish capital playing a central role in that change.
This article was summarised and commented on by the LTS Frekans editorial team, drawing on the source article.
