Exploring impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on Turkish textile supply chains

Year 2025, Issue: 70, 133 - 140, 30.04.2025

Volkan Sezgin

https://doi.org/10.18070/erciyesiibd.1490092

Abstract

Turkish textile producers faced significant challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study delves into the effects of the pandemic on Turkish textile supply chains through comprehensive surveys and interviews with selected companies in the industry. We employed a mixed research methodology. Our survey focused on understanding the changes and trends in Turkey's textile supply chains, particularly in relation to the disruptions caused by the pandemic in sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery processes. We distributed online survey to 110 textile apparel and clothing firms via email, and 39 of them responded. We also conducted in-depth interviews with five of these companies participated in the survey phase, despite all responders had been invited. Our study revealed that the pandemic had a detrimental impact on Turkish textile supply chains, in general. Specifically, production activities were severely disrupted due to problems in procuring raw materials and intermediate supplies, resulting from the decreased performance of suppliers during the pandemic. Additionally, textile companies faced significant financial difficulties, with their total revenues deteriorating due to disruptions in the payment collection process and price increases. Distribution channels were also critically disrupted, and border crossings became more challenging. Interestingly, most Turkish textile companies did not switch their main suppliers because of the pandemic.

Keywords

Supply chain , textile , COVID-19 pandemic , Turkiye

COVID-19 pandemisinin Türk tekstil tedarik zincirleri üzerindeki etkilerinin tahlili

Abstract

Türk tekstil üreticileri Covid-19 salgını sırasında ve sonrasında önemli zorluklarla karşı karşıya kalmıştır. Bu çalışma, sektördeki seçilmiş firmalarla yapılan kapsamlı anketler ve birebir mülakatlar aracılığıyla salgının Türk tekstil tedarik zincirleri üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktadır. Çalışmamızda karma bir araştırma metodolojisi kullanılmıştır. Anketimiz Türkiye tekstil tedarik zincirlerinde, özellikle de salgının kaynak bulma, üretim ve teslimat süreçleri üzerinde neden olduğu aksamalarla ilgili değişiklikleri ve eğilimleri anlamaya odaklanmıştır. Çevrimiçi anket toplamda 110 tekstil ve hazır giyim firmasına e-posta yoluyla ulaştırılmış ve 39’undan cevap alınmıştır. Anketi cevaplandıran tüm firmalar mğlakat sürecine davet edilmesine karşın, anketi cevaplandıran beş firmayla derinlemesine mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmamız, salgının bir bütün olarak Türk tekstil tedarik zincirlerini olumsuz etkilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle pandemi döneminde tedarikçilerin üretimlerinin aksaması sonucu hammadde ve ara malzeme temininde yaşanan sorunlar nedeniyle üretim faaliyetlerinin ciddi şekilde aksamalar yaşandığı anlaşılmaktadır. Ayrıca tekstil firmaları, ödeme ve tahsilat süreçlerindeki gecikmeler ve fiyat artışları nedeniyle muhtelif mali zorluklarla karşı karşıya kalmışlardır. Dağıtım kanalları da önemli ölçüde kesintiye uğramış ve sınır geçişleri daha meşakkatli hale gelmiştir. İlginçtir ki çoğu Türk tekstil şirketinin pandemi nedeniyle ana tedarikçilerini değiştirmediği saptanmıştır.

Keywords

Tedarik zinciri , tekstil , COVID-19 salgını , Turkiye

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