Turkish leather exports defy economic crisis
According to the Turkish exhibition organiser, Ezgi Ajans, leather exports increased by 13.8% of the first half of the year. This was in spite of the country’s current economic woes and virtual collapse of the Turkish lira since February.
Quoting figures issued by the Turkish Exporters’ Board (TIM), the company said that during June, exports of leather and leather products stood at $53.3 million – a 4.7% increase on the $50.9 figure recorded for June 2000.
In the first half of the year, leather and leather product exports totalled $263.3 million – 13.8% up on the year-before figure of $231.5 million. Meanwhile, the Turkish Shoe Makers’ Organisation has warned that its members will be forced to stop production next month if the foreign exchange situation does not improve, because they will have run out of imported solvents by then.
