Chemical Sector Sets 2019 Export Target: $19 Billion

Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Chairman Adil Pelister commented on the chemical sector's activities and achievements in 2018. Pelister emphasized that a very successful performance curve had formed for the chemical sector and stated the following in his assessment: "During the first half of this year, we experienced election excitement at İKMİB. Following my election as Chairman at the General Assembly held in April, we quickly started our work. From the day I took office, we have given priority and importance to activities, problems and solutions that would increase our chemical sector's exports. In this direction, by organizing various domestic and international events, we are moving forward towards our goal of becoming the second sector with the most exports on an annual basis". Emphasizing that despite unfavorable conditions such as volatile exchange rates, high interest rates and high inflation experienced in the second half of 2018, this year was and would continue to be a record-breaking year in terms of exports, Pelister said, "Exports, which provide the largest contribution to Turkey's growth, became the most important criterion enabling our companies to stay afloat during this difficult process. When we look at the figures for the chemical industry, we see that we have achieved successful export performance. Our chemical sector demonstrated great success in the months of June, September and October this year, becoming Turkey's second most exporting sector" he said. Noting that the chemical industry, one of Turkey's locomotive sectors, reached USD 15 billion 935 million in eleven-month exports for 2018, Pelister continued his remarks as follows: "Compared to the same period of 2017, our sector's exports showed an increase of 8.11% in value terms. Our chemical exports reached 17 million 601 thousand tonnes in the eleven-month period with a 4.27% increase in volume compared to the previous year. When we examine 2018 on a monthly basis excluding December, October was the month with the highest exports at USD 1 billion 604 million."