According to data from İKMİB (Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association), chemical substances and products exports reached USD 1.68 billion in February 2021. The sector's two-month exports increased by 4.60% to USD 3.32 billion. Belgium was the leading destination for chemical exports in February, followed by Germany and Iraq.
Evaluating the chemical sector's February export figures, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister stated: "Our country's 1.8% growth in 2020 despite the pandemic indicates that we will complete this year with stronger growth. Our chemistry sector, as Turkey's second-largest exporting sector, makes a significant contribution to our national economy. In February, sector exports reached USD 1 billion 683 million, representing a 12.72% increase compared to the same period last year.
Our sector's two-month exports this year reached USD 3.32 billion with a 4.60% increase. We understand that increasing our exports and domestic investments in our country are crucial leverage for developing our national economy. As a chemistry sector, our efforts focus on generating new investments and increasing exports to bring high value-added products to our country.
Indeed, we welcomed the inclusion of products related to chemistry, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and dentistry in the priority products list through the Technology-Focused Industrial Mobilization Program published recently in the Official Gazette. As İKMİB, we see that most of the products in our Turkish Chemistry Sector Investment Priority Products Report—developed after long efforts and which will curb imports and help reduce the current account deficit—are included in the announced list. Our Ministry of Industry and Technology will open calls in May or June for projects related to the products on this list, enabling our members to submit project applications. We expect the investments to be implemented in the shortest possible time," he said.
Belgium leads February exports
Belgium was the leading destination for exports in February. Other countries in the top ten following Belgium in February were Germany, Iraq, Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Israel and United States. Of the 10 leading export destinations in February, 7 experienced export growth, while exports to Netherlands, Italy and USA declined. The largest increase among the top 10 countries was 148.69% to Greece, while among the top 20 countries, the largest increase was 419.27% to Nigeria.
Chemical exports to Belgium totaled USD 88 million 96 thousand in February 2021. This represents a 52.67% increase compared to the same period last year. In February, the main exports to Belgium were "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products," "plastics and plastic products," "inorganic chemicals" and "rubber and rubber articles."
In the January-February 2021 period, the leading destinations for chemical exports were Italy, Germany, Iraq, USA, Spain, Lebanon, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece and United Kingdom in the top ten.
Plastics and plastic products lead February exports
In February, plastics and plastic products exports ranked first in chemical substances and products categories with USD 619 million 587 thousand. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked second with USD 298 million 80 thousand in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with USD 147 million 601 thousand in exports. Following inorganic chemicals, other sectors in the top ten were "rubber and rubber articles," "essential oils, cosmetics and soap," "pharmaceutical products," "paints, varnishes, inks and related products," "miscellaneous chemical substances," "organic chemicals" and "washing preparations."
The largest export increase in subsectors in February was 88.69% in organic chemicals, while the largest contraction was 10.07% in mineral fuels, mineral oils and products.
2021 monthly chemical exports
| MONTH |
2020 VALUE ($) |
2021 VALUE ($) |
CHANGE (%) |
| January |
1,683,218,155 |
1,639,330,009 |
% -2.61 |
| February |
1,493,711,443 |
1,683,738,586 |
% 12.72 |
| TOTAL |
3,176,929,598 |
3,323,068,594 |
% 4.60 |
Leading destinations for chemical exports in February 2021
| NO. |
Country |
FEBRUARY 2020 VALUE ($) |
FEBRUARY 2021 VALUE ($) |
CHANGE (%) |
| 1 |
Belgium |
57,702,284.56 |
88,096,616.88 |
% 52.67 |
| 2 |
Germany |
71,771,124.50 |
86,774,256.68 |
% 20.90 |
| 3 |
Iraq |
76,352,705.94 |
78,026,114.31 |
% 2.19 |
| 4 |
Netherlands |
89,728,615.00 |
71,698,410.14 |
% -20.09 |
| 5 |
Greece |
28,620,177.54 |
71,176,170.29 |
% 148.69 |
| 6 |
Italy |
74,718,201.53 |
67,915,159.06 |
% -9.10 |
| 7 |
Spain |
48,493,400.52 |
63,725,113.92 |
% 31.41 |
| 8 |
United Kingdom |
42,343,971.93 |
54,424,722.39 |
% 28.53 |
| 9 |
Israel |
41,281,293.42 |
52,969,144.76 |
% 28.31 |
| 10 |
United States |
50,363,226.67 |
48,014,676.34 |
% -4.66 |
Chemical sector subsectors in February 2021
| |
|
|
2020-2021 |
| |
FEBRUARY 2020 |
FEBRUARY 2021 |
% CHANGE |
| PRODUCT GROUP |
VALUE ($) |
VALUE ($) |
VALUE |
| PLASTICS AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS |
500,574,987.39 |
619,587,077.28 |
% 23.78 |
| MINERAL FUELS, MINERAL OILS AND PRODUCTS |
331,442,042.03 |
298,080,363.09 |
% -10.07 |
| INORGANIC CHEMICALS |
140,205,187.92 |
147,601,741.03 |
% 5.28 |
| RUBBER AND RUBBER ARTICLES |
103,305,688.50 |
120,271,008.10 |
% 16.42 |
| ESSENTIAL OILS, COSMETICS AND SOAP |
96,278,330.70 |
101,944,027.37 |
% 5.88 |
| PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS |
80,126,570.25 |
100,160,473.02 |
% 25.00 |
| PAINTS, VARNISHES, INKS AND RELATED PRODUCTS |
71,008,937.74 |
80,446,769.97 |
% 13.29 |
| MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES |
58,848,638.56 |
75,159,329.90 |
% 27.72 |
| ORGANIC CHEMICALS |
26,326,789.29 |
49,676,599.50 |
% 88.69 |
| WASHING PREPARATIONS |
42,137,993.58 |
45,714,247.92 |
% 8.49 |
| FERTILIZERS |
22,547,428.24 |
22,253,562.43 |
% -1.30 |
| ADHESIVES, GLUES, ENZYMES |
19,096,604.51 |
20,330,216.82 |
% 6.46 |
| EXPLOSIVES AND RELATED SUBSTANCES |
1,010,365.80 |
1,344,187.99 |
% 33.04 |
| PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY PRODUCTS |
734,274.05 |
1,021,702.49 |
% 39.14 |
| GLYCERIN, VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, DEGRAS, OILY SUBSTANCES |
64,688.21 |
123,607.83 |
% 91.08 |
| PROCESSED ASBESTOS AND MIXTURES, PRODUCTS |
2,916.60 |
23,670.89 |
% 711.59 |
| TOTAL |
1,493,711,443 |
1,683,738,585 |
% 12.72 |
