Chemical Sector Achieves 18 Percent Export Growth in 10 Months

The Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) announced that the chemical industry's exports for October 2019 reached USD 1.93 billion. The sector's ten-month exports, continuing its upward trend, totalled USD 17 billion. The chemical industry grew by 18 percent over ten months through its expansion into East Asia. By the number of countries to which sectors export, the chemical industry ranked first with exports to 205 countries and regions. Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), commenting on the chemical sector's export figures, stated: "Our chemical sector continues to increase exports. We are seeing the results of our efforts towards target countries such as East Asia and the United States. October chemical sector exports reached USD 1.93 billion. Over the ten-month period, our sector's exports reached USD 17 billion. We also continue to be the second most exporting sector for ten consecutive months. We are working at an intensive pace to reach our year-end target of USD 20 billion. We held the "Dissemination Event" of the polynSPIRE Project, which is supported under Horizon 2020, Europe's largest civilian research and development programme, in Istanbul. The project aims to develop innovative technologies for plastic recycling. Additionally, in October we held workshops for the paints sector and rubber sector. In the mineral oils sector, we conducted our first Sectoral Trade Mission to Kazakhstan. We also implemented our Turkey Promotion Group Mineral Oils Promotion Project, which is the first TTG project within our Association, in Kazakhstan. On 27-30 November 2019, we will conduct our buying delegation organization at the Putech Eurasia 2019 fair. Our country has all the resources necessary for development and a sustainable economy, provided we act in unity and solidarity. We will continue to work, produce and increase our exports," he said.

"Iraq Ranked as Top Export Destination in October"

Iraq was the leading export destination in October. Other countries in the top ten following Iraq in October were Italy, the United States, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Egypt, Germany, Belgium and Lebanon. Chemical exports to Iraq in October 2019 reached USD 119,595,000. In October, the main exports to Iraq included "plastics and plastic products", "fertilizers", "essential oils, cosmetics and soap", "paints, varnishes, inks and preparations", "washing preparations", "pharmaceutical products", "miscellaneous chemical substances", "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products", "adhesives, glues and enzymes", "inorganic chemicals", and "rubber and rubber products". Ten-month chemical exports to Iraq this year reached USD 820,590,000. Among countries with the highest chemical exports in the January-October 2019 period, the Netherlands, Italy, Iraq, Spain, Germany, Egypt, the United States, Malta, Greece and the United Kingdom ranked in the top ten.

"Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products Led Chemical Sub-Sectors in Exports"

In October, exports of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products in sub-sectors ranked first in chemical exports with USD 612,280,141. Plastics and plastic products ranked second with USD 543,259,286 in exports, while inorganic chemicals exports ranked third with USD 170,135,231. Other sectors in the top ten following inorganic chemicals were: 'rubber and rubber products', 'essential oils, cosmetics and soap', 'pharmaceutical products', 'paints, varnishes, inks and preparations', 'miscellaneous chemical substances', 'fertilizers' and 'organic chemicals'.