In 2007 the total value of technical textiles and nonwovens exports was estimated to exceed US$ 1,5 billion. The main export products in 2006 were big bags (FIBC), tire cord fabrics, nonwovens, glass fibers and articles, technical fabrics, safety seat belts and high tenacity yarns. The EU (Germany, France, UK, Italy), the Russian Federation, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Ukraine are the most important markets for Turkish technical textiles and nonwoven sectors.

Although all technical textiles products cannot be identified in the Harmonized System, the major items are given in the table.

Turkey's Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exports By Major Product Groups (US $ 1000)

HS Codes and Product Descriptions	2000	2004	2005	2006	2007
630532- Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBC)	128,997	225,965	255,192	260,189	274,587
5902- Tyre cord fabrics of high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides, polyesters or viscose rayon	74,355	135,629	153,362	163,219	174,605
5603- Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated	9,434	45,869	51,812	71,532	95,823
7019 Glass fibres (incl glass wool) and articles thereof	37,161	80,290	81,396	80,765	83,485
5903 Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics	53,131	61,888	58,782	66,081	83,082
870821 Safety seat belts	15,156	74,215	71,552	65,998	73,607
540219 Other high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides	33,810	68,117	76,618	62,807	72,598
5907 Textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered; painted canvas being theatrical scenery, studio back cloths or the like	3,239	20,772	25,312	28,778	32,529
870895 Safety airbags	367	8,393	17,244	14,859	30,921
540710- Woven fabrics obtained from high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides or of polyesters	3,051	10,034	6,985	11,824	29,437

Source: Undersecretarial of Foreign Trade

2nd HIGHTEX Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition and SAFETECH 2007 Protective Textiles and Technologies Exhibition were realized simultaneously on 30 November-2 December 2007 in Istanbul Exhibition Center. HIGHTEX 2007 and SAFETECH 2007 Exhibitions, in which the raw materials, intermediate and end products of future's market nonwovens, their production techniques were together, was the largest technical textiles meeting of Middle East and Eastern Europe. During the exhibition, the 3rd International Technical Textiles Congress, which was organized by Dokuz Eylul University, Engineering Faculty, Textile engineering Department, was also realized on 1-2 December. For detailed information please visit http://www.hightex2007.com/

A monthly issued magazine in English and Turkish, named Nonwoven Technical Textiles Technology Magazine, and is available since 2003. For detailed information please visit http://www.teknikfuarcilik.com/en/dergi2.asp?dergi=2