The United States’ decision to impose a 55% tariff on Indian carpets—compared with just 15% on Turkish exports—has created fresh opportunities for Türkiye’s producers, with demand from American buyers already showing signs of growth.
Industry leaders in Gaziantep, the country’s carpet capital, say the shift is redirecting orders that once went to India. Koza Carpet, a leading manufacturer that exports more than half its production to the U.S., expects its shipments to rise in 2026. Chief Executive İbrahim Cingisiz confirmed that the company is developing new designs tailored to U.S. buyers and has already begun preparing collections for the summer season.
U.S. Remains Key Market for Turkish Exporters
Cingisiz highlighted that Koza Carpet has been supplying major American retailers—including Walmart, Home Depot, and Sam’s Club—since 2004, making the U.S. its largest market for over a decade. “More than 50% of our exports go to America,” he said.
Beyond the U.S., the company exports to about 30 countries worldwide, including Germany, Spain, the U.K., France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, China, and Malaysia. Currently, around 60% of Koza’s output is exported, generating $25–28 million in annual foreign currency income for Türkiye. Looking ahead, the firm plans to expand further into Northern Europe, South America, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Branding Push and Calvin Klein Partnership
While growing exports remains a priority, Koza Carpet is also investing in building its brand domestically. It operates 13 retail stores across Türkiye under the Koza and Calvin Klein names.
“For us, the real goal is to carry our Koza Carpet brand forward,” Cingisiz noted, adding plans to open more showrooms.
The company also produces carpets under license for Calvin Klein, a partnership that now covers operations in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany, and Romania. Koza has developed 16–17 exclusive collections for the brand, which are also sold in the U.S. A $10 million investment has been allocated for Calvin Klein-branded collections, alongside plans to expand its workforce from 730 to 1,000 employees.
Gaziantep’s Global Dominance in Machine-Made Carpets
Gaziantep has cemented its reputation as one of the world’s foremost carpet manufacturing hubs. According to Cingisiz, the city accounts for 65% of global demand for machine-made carpets, with more than 200 companies and 1,500 looms in operation.
“To put this in perspective, Belgium has fewer than 1,500 looms in total, while Gaziantep alone surpasses that number,” he said.
Unlike the broader textile sector, which has shifted significant production to countries such as Egypt, Türkiye’s carpet industry remains globally competitive. “Egypt and the Turkic republics cannot compete with us,” Cingisiz asserted. “Even if they use the same machines and raw materials, we have the know-how, the export infrastructure, and proximity to Europe.”
