According to data from the Istanbul Chemical Substance and Product Exporters Association (İKMİB), the chemical sector set a record in 2019 with $18.8 billion in exports achieved over eleven months. Continuing as the sector with the second-highest exports, the chemical sector is scoring successive successes. Standing out as the sector exporting to the most countries among all sectors, the chemical sector ranked first in November with exports to 208 countries and regions.
Adil Pelister, Chair of the Board, Istanbul Chemical Substance and Product Exporters Association (İKMİB):
"Our chemical sector achieved $1.83 billion in exports in November, both reaffirming its position as the second-largest exporting sector and breaking the export record by reaching $18.8 billion in eleven-month exports.
Additionally, among all sectors, we achieved an important success by exporting to 208 countries and regions, making us the sector exporting to the most destinations.
Our sector's highest export figure to date was $17.851 billion in 2014. By surpassing this figure in eleven months of this year with $18.8 billion in exports, I congratulate our companies who fill us with pride and all sector representatives and stakeholders who contributed to this great achievement.
God willing, we will surpass our year-end target of $20 billion and set yet another record."
Pelister:
"We view the third-quarter growth rate announced at 0.9% as a reflection of our economic management's determined efforts. These positive developments give us hope for the future." he continued.
The Netherlands was the leading export destination in November. Other countries ranking in the top ten following the Netherlands were Spain, Iraq, Egypt, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Algeria and Russia. Chemical exports to the Netherlands reached $110,837,930 in November 2019.
In November, the main exports to the Netherlands included "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products", "plastics and plastic articles", "inorganic chemicals", "essential oils, cosmetics and soaps", "rubber and rubber articles", "miscellaneous chemical substances" and "pharmaceutical products".
Eleven-month chemical exports to the Netherlands this year reached $998,743,000. Among the countries with the highest chemical exports in the January-November 2019 period, the Netherlands, Iraq, Italy, Spain, Germany, Egypt, USA, Malta, Greece and UK ranked in the top ten.
In November, among subsectors, exports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked first in chemical exports at $553,229,750. Plastics and plastic articles ranked second with $512,769,439 in exports, while inorganic chemicals exports ranked third at $176,612,455.
Other sectors ranking in the top ten following inorganic chemicals were: 'essential oils, cosmetics and soaps', 'rubber and rubber articles', 'pharmaceutical products', 'paints, varnishes, inks and preparations', 'miscellaneous chemical substances', 'cleaning preparations' and 'organic chemicals'.
2019 Monthly Chemical Exports
| Month |
2018 Value ($) |
2019 Value ($) |
Difference (%) |
| January |
1,353,513,921.26 |
1,539,656,501.73 |
13.75% |
| February |
1,265,531,849.44 |
1,645,324,186.38 |
30.01% |
| March |
1,566,978,246.63 |
1,840,053,801.17 |
17.43% |
| April |
1,353,909,699.99 |
1,771,329,274.17 |
30.83% |
| May |
1,467,435,484.42 |
1,936,921,007.06 |
31.99% |
| June |
1,423,543,817.85 |
1,297,776,596.28 |
-8.83% |
| July |
1,477,096,084.78 |
1,739,062,327.22 |
17.74% |
| August |
1,378,633,465.30 |
1,636,178,039.16 |
18.68% |
| September |
1,534,992,828.12 |
1,651,185,452.30 |
7.57% |
| October |
1,591,861,782.59 |
1,936,298,709.88 |
21.64% |
| November |
1,494,497,728.63 |
1,836,164,283.28 |
22.86% |
| Total |
15,907,994,909 |
18,829,950,179 |
18.37% |
2019 November - Countries with Highest Chemical Exports
| No. |
Country |
November 2018 Value ($) |
November 2019 Value ($) |
Change Value (%) |
| 1 |
Netherlands |
54,966,404.13 |
110,837,930.26 |
101.65% |
| 2 |
Spain |
50,291,971.53 |
107,260,185.69 |
113.27% |
| 3 |
Iraq |
91,600,909.45 |
97,677,397.83 |
6.63% |
| 4 |
Egypt |
90,440,690.45 |
88,328,414.59 |
-2.34% |
| 5 |
Germany |
80,360,615.25 |
72,169,034.00 |
-10.19% |
| 6 |
France |
27,469,249.92 |
69,073,444.26 |
151.46% |
| 7 |
Italy |
48,811,334.12 |
66,478,019.82 |
36.19% |
| 8 |
Greece |
45,547,367.79 |
57,082,128.69 |
25.32% |
| 9 |
Algeria |
25,610,323.55 |
56,495,851.45 |
120.60% |
| 10 |
Russian Federation |
33,123,064.39 |
48,697,157.93 |
47.02% |
2019 November Chemical Sector Exports by Subsector
|
|
|
2018-2019 |
|
November 2018 |
November 2019 |
% Difference |
| Product Group |
Value ($) |
Value ($) |
Value |
| Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products |
236,048,268 |
553,229,750 |
134.37% |
| Plastics and Plastic Articles |
524,512,665 |
512,769,439 |
-2.24% |
| Inorganic Chemicals |
152,613,872 |
176,612,455 |
15.73% |
| Essential Oils, Cosmetics and Soaps |
107,856,110 |
113,169,017 |
4.93% |
| Rubber and Rubber Articles |
120,191,340 |
108,836,126 |
-9.45% |
| Pharmaceutical Products |
90,256,521 |
106,234,056 |
17.70% |
| Paints, Varnishes, Inks and Preparations |
70,794,466 |
76,221,158 |
7.67% |
| Miscellaneous Chemical Substances |
49,859,251 |
52,679,824 |
5.66% |
| Cleaning Preparations |
39,621,870 |
48,554,551 |
22.54% |
| Organic Chemicals |
37,835,262 |
34,368,823 |
-9.16% |
| Fertilizers |
47,639,501 |
31,080,474 |
-34.76% |
| Adhesives, Glues, Enzymes |
15,407,106 |
20,557,874 |
33.43% |
| Photographic and Cinematographic Products |
1,135,543 |
1,007,238 |
-11.30% |
| Gunpowder, Explosives and Derivatives |
645,057 |
772,773 |
19.80% |
| Glycerin, Plant Products, Degras, Fatty Substances |
50,966 |
56,642 |
11.14% |
| Processed Asbestos and Mixtures, Articles |
29,929 |
14,082 |
-52.95% |
| Total |
1,494,497,729 |
1,836,164,283 |
22.86% |
