Chemical Sector Exports Rose 70% in April

According to data from the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), chemical sector exports reached USD 2.16 billion in April this year with an increase of approximately 70 percent. The sector set a new monthly record with its April exports. The sector's exports for the first four months reached USD 7.47 billion with a 25 percent increase.   Evaluating the April export figures for the chemical sector, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister stated: "Our sector's export performance continues to grow. Following March, we broke our monthly export record again in April. We continue to be Turkey's second largest exporting sector. I congratulate our exporters who have demonstrated great success by breaking records for two consecutive months. With our USD 2.16 billion export in April, our four-month export figure reached USD 7.47 billion. Our exports increased by 25 percent compared to the January-April period of last year. While we are pleased with this increase, we hope that our exports will grow further once our ongoing logistics and supply problems are resolved. On the other hand, due to the full lockdown measures taken as part of efforts to combat the pandemic, the responsibility of our manufacturers has increased even more. During this period, our producer and exporter companies may need additional capital due to high raw material prices. It is of great importance to provide support such as facilitating access to financing at appropriate credit interest rates for our companies, deferring credit payments and debts, extending or deferring GEKAP declaration periods. The contribution of our state to the business world becomes even more important, especially during the pandemic period. God willing, we will overcome this period together with care, with joint dedication of the public and business sectors," he said.  

Netherlands was the leading export destination in April

The Netherlands was the top export destination in April. Other countries in the top ten following the Netherlands in April were Germany, Italy, Iraq, Belgium, the USA, the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Greece and Spain. In April, Lebanon recorded the highest growth among the top 10 countries at 958.45 percent. Chemical exports to the Netherlands in April 2021 reached USD 130,923 thousand. Compared to the same period last year, this represented a 122.15 percent increase. In April, the main exports to the Netherlands were "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products", "plastics and plastic articles", "inorganic chemicals" and "essential oils, cosmetics and soap". In the January-April period of 2021, the leading countries for chemical exports were Germany, Italy, Iraq, the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Spain, the United Kingdom and Lebanon in the top ten.  

Plastics and plastic articles accounted for the largest share of exports in April

In April, plastics and plastic articles exports reached USD 768,439 thousand, ranking first in chemical substance and product exports. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked second with USD 467,830 thousand in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with USD 174,500 thousand in exports. Other sectors in the top ten following inorganic chemicals were: rubber and rubber articles, pharmaceutical products, essential oils, cosmetics and soap, paints, varnishes, inks and preparations, miscellaneous chemical substances, organic chemicals and washing preparations. In April, the largest export growth among sub-sectors occurred in organic chemicals at 169.99 percent, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products at 157.35 percent, and rubber and rubber articles at 141.70 percent.  

Diagnostic kits led Covid-19 product exports in April

Covid-19 product exports including disinfectants, cologne, pharmaceuticals, soap and diagnostic kits in the chemical substances and products sector decreased by 68.72 percent in April compared to the same month last year, reaching USD 32.7 million. Among Covid-19 products exported in April this year, diagnostic kit exports ranked first with USD 17,874 thousand with a 0.76 percent decrease, disinfectant exports ranked second with USD 7,815 thousand with an 89.19 percent decrease, soap exports ranked third with USD 3,839 thousand with a 56.93 percent decrease, pharmaceutical exports ranked fourth with USD 1,931 thousand with an 80.20 percent increase, and cologne exports ranked fifth with USD 1,301 thousand with a 70.47 percent decrease. In April, the top three countries for diagnostic kit exports were Germany, Libya and Serbia, while for disinfectant exports Libya, the Netherlands and the USA, for soap exports Iraq, Israel and Libya, for pharmaceutical exports Germany, the USA and Bulgaria, and for cologne exports Germany, the Netherlands and Hong Kong ranked in the top three. In the January-April period this year, Covid-19 product exports in the chemical substances and products sector decreased by 31.94 percent, reaching USD 106,825 thousand. In the four-month period, diagnostic kits accounted for the largest share with USD 54 million in exports.    

Leading chemical export destinations in April 2021

Sub-sectors in chemical sector exports in April 2021

Covid-19 product exports in the chemical sector in April 2021