A Record Export from the Chemical Sector in April

Chemical Sector Posts Record April Exports According to data from İKMİB, the chemical industry achieved record exports of $3.32 billion in April. The chemical industry, which reached the top sector position in March, held the leading export position for the second consecutive month in April. Sector exports grew 53 percent year-on-year. Total exports for the first four months of the year increased 45 percent to reach $10.8 billion. Adil Pelister, Chairman of İKMİB, commented on April's chemical export figures: "As the chemical industry, our export performance continues to strengthen. We have held the leading export position for two consecutive months. We set a new monthly export record of $3.3 billion in April. While our April exports increased 53 percent, exports in the first four months grew 45 percent to reach $10.8 billion. In April, our principal exports were mineral fuels, mineral oils and products, plastics and their products, and inorganic chemicals. The three leading export destinations were the Netherlands, the USA and South Africa. If we maintain this performance, we are confident we will easily surpass our year-end target of $28 billion. The Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to place upward pressure on commodity and energy prices, indicating this trend will persist. Global inflation is also a significant factor affecting us. Despite these difficult conditions, our exporters are pursuing opportunities in alternative supplier markets such as the European Union and the USA. Turkish products are meeting the increased demand in these target markets, which is reflected in our export figures. Through the Chemistry Technology Center (KTM), which İKMİB plans to commission by year-end, we aim to produce higher value-added products and strengthen our companies' competitive position. Our goal is to reach permanent sectoral leadership in 2030, increase total sectoral exports above $50 billion, and raise per-kilogram export value above $1.5."

Netherlands emerges as leading export destination in April

  The Netherlands was the leading export destination in April. Other countries in the top ten following the Netherlands were the USA, South Africa, Romania, Italy, Germany, Spain, Iraq, Egypt and England. Among the top 10 destinations in April, South Africa posted the highest growth at 2,044.75 percent.   Chemical exports to the Netherlands in April reached $258.389 million. Compared to the same period last year, this represented a 97.51 percent increase. The five leading product categories exported to the Netherlands in April were "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products", "organic chemicals", "plastics and their products", "inorganic chemicals" and "essential oils, cosmetics and soap".   The top ten destinations for chemical exports in January-April 2022 were the Netherlands, Italy, USA, Germany, Romania, Lebanon, Spain, Iraq, Belgium and England, respectively.  

"Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products" lead chemical exports in April

In April, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked first among chemical product groups with $1.08407 billion in exports. Plastics and their products took second place with $1.019483 billion in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with $278.360 million. Following inorganic chemicals, the remaining top ten categories were organic chemicals, rubber and rubber products, essential oils, cosmetics and soap, pharmaceuticals, paint, varnish, ink and related products, miscellaneous chemical products and washing products. Organic chemicals exports rose 147.71 percent in April, reaching an export value of $170.4 million.