Sectors
Textile

Textile in Africa
Once, East Africa was a world leader in cotton. Under British colonial rule, a system of poll taxes forced African farmers to meet specific quotas to satisfy the empire’s demands for textiles. The African textile industry is a varied one, but the seeming constant is their cotton market. There are many countries in Africa that currently grow and sell cotton. Six of them grow cotton under the label ''Cotton made by Africa'', which is one of the largest job producers as well, with 450,000 Africans working in the cotton business alone. Companies like H&M have opened mills in Africa, since their wages are less, and the population can support the workers needed. They also create products like thread and yarn for global markets from cotton grown and harvested in Africa.
The textile industry presents a lot of potential for value added benefits and job creation. It is estimated that up to 600% of value can be created along the cotton value chain: from cotton production, spinning and twisting into yarn, to weaving and knitting into fabric, followed by dying, printing and designing. The textile industry in Africa is estimated to grow at a CAGR of ~5% over the forecast period of 2019-2024.
How We Help: Textile
We advise; we do not sell, ship or install anything ourselves. We help African buyers find and check Turkish manufacturers of textile machinery and clothing, compare quotations and agree terms, payment and documents, and we help Turkish manufacturers find and check buyers and distributors in Africa. Examples of products sourced from Turkey:
- Cotton-Spinning Machine
- Knitting Machine
- Lace Machine
- Jet Cleaner
- Dust Extraction Machine
- Industrial Sewing Machine
- Laser Cutting Machine
- Ironing Machine
- Second Hand Clothes
- Tshirt, shirt, pants, jeans, etc.
Related reading
Textile Sampling Before a First Order Into West Africa
Textile sampling before a first order is the cheapest insurance a first time buyer can buy: it turns a quote into a sample you can inspect, approve...
Importing Cotton from Africa for Turkish Textile Mills
A practical guide to importing cotton from Africa for Turkish textile mills: where to source raw lint, how to verify sellers, and the documents a...
African Textile and Cotton Export to Turkey
African textile and cotton export to Turkey is experiencing a vibrant surge, opening new doors in the Africa to Turkey trade.
- How to Import Turkish Textiles to Africa
- Importing Textiles from Africa
- Exporting Textiles to Africa
- How to Export Textiles from Turkey
- Business Report: Development of the Textile Industry in Kenya
- Verifying an African Mineral Supplier Before You Pay
- Green Coffee Contract Terms for Turkish Coffee Roasters
- How to Start Exporting from Turkey to Algeria: A Practical Guide
- Exporting from Turkey to Morocco: A Practical Guide
Other sectors
Reviewed by Burak Unal, Director of African Markets



