Competitiveness analysis of Turkish cotton and cotton textile industry in the world market

The intensification of cotton and cotton products in international trade makes it necessary to determine the level of international competition in these products for Turkey. Therefore, in this study it is aimed to determine Turkey's competitiveness in the world market for selected sub-groups of cotton and cotton textiles industry. In the first phase of the study, Relative Export Advantage, Relative Import Advantage, Relative Trade Advantage, Revealed Comparative Advantage, Export Specialization indices, Import Advantage Rate and International Competition Exposure Rate are calculated for competing countries together with Turkey. The results showed that Turkey has relative trade advantage in all subgroups of cotton products excluding 5201 coded cotton product. However Turkey's revealead comparative advantage was moderate or weak. Constant market share analysis results indicate that in the 18-year period, Turkey did not concentrate on the cotton products that displayed an increasing demand. The result of the constant market share analysis show that in the last 18 years The most influential factor in changing Turkey's share in world markets has been its impact on market volume. The most influential factor in changing its share in the world market is the effect of market volume. Turkey has started to lose her competitive advantage gained at the beginning of the 2000s in 2013-2017 period. in order to recapture its competitive advantage in the world market, the country must follow multi-dimensional and holistic policies that cover every stage starting from the production of the cotton to its process and to garment.