IKMIB Holds 2025 Press Conference

The chemical sector, which achieved TRY 30.8 billion in exports in 2024 and maintained its success as Turkey's second-largest exporting sector, took a strong step into 2025 with new targets under İKMİB's leadership.

In 2025, chemical exporters will focus on increasing market diversification with quality products under the banner of high value-added exports, and will traverse the world following the roadmap drawn by İKMİB to reach their TRY 35 billion export target.

Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Chairman Adil Pelister, pointing out that they realized exports to 231 countries and regions in 2024 and captured 13.6% of Turkey's total exports, stated that despite the slowdown in global trade, the chemical sector achieved growth in 9 of its 16 subsectors.

Plastics and products sector led 2024
The subsectors that realized the highest exports in the chemical sector, which completed 2024 with TRY 30.8 billion in exports, have been identified. Last year, plastics and products led chemical exports with TRY 9.4 billion in the chemical substances and products group. Mineral fuels and products took second place with TRY 7.9 billion in exports, while inorganic chemicals exports maintained its third-place position with TRY 2.7 billion. Essential oils, cosmetics and soap ranked fourth with TRY 2.1 billion, while the rubber sector made the top 5 of 2024 chemical exports with TRY 1.6 billion.

USA rises to third place in chemical exports while exports to Egypt increased by 60%
In 2024, firms that are members of Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) realized 61.4% of chemical exports, and the rise of the USA and Egypt among the top 10 countries with the highest chemical exports attracted attention. Romania ranked second with a 35% increase, the USA entered the top 3 with a 32% increase, and Egypt entered the top 10 with a 60% increase. Netherlands maintained its first place among the top 10 countries in chemical exports, while the countries with the highest chemical exports were Netherlands, Romania, USA, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain, Iraq, United Kingdom and Egypt.

Pelister: "Despite all challenges in the world economy and global trade, we continue our upward trend in chemical exports"

İKMİB Chairman Adil Pelister, noting that the chemical industry is one of Turkey's locomotive sectors in exports and creates high value-added by touching every area where production occurs, stated: "As the chemical sector, while highlighting Turkey's export-leading sectors, we continue our upward trend in exports with our strategic products that add value to every aspect of life, and proudly represent our country around the world. Last year, we left behind a challenging year for our exporters, particularly due to the slowdown in the world economy, protectionism brought by geopolitical risks, and difficulties in global trade.

However, through the dedicated work of our chemical exporters and their determination to overcome boundaries, we managed to increase both our market and product diversity. Now our goal is to look to the new year with hope, focus on opportunities on a global scale, and take our chemical exports to the next level. In our 2025 homework, we aim to scale up with a plan that will strengthen our exporters. We will support greater technology investments, we will spread innovation and R&D-based production across all fields of chemistry, and of course, we will implement work that will accelerate the transformation in industry."

Pelister: "We will continue to achieve firsts in chemistry in line with our Vision 2030 strategy"

İKMİB Chairman Adil Pelister, pointing out that as the İKMİB Board of Directors they have taken important steps in line with their Vision 2030 strategy to shape the future of the Turkish chemical sector, stated: "With the Chemistry Technology Center that we recently inaugurated, we achieved a first for our sector in Turkey. 39 tests that had not been conducted before in our country will be performed at the Chemistry Technology Center. A total of 209 different tests will be conducted and 100 tests will also be accredited. This will provide our exporters with both time and cost savings.

We will also contribute an average of USD 12.5 million annually to reducing our country's current account deficit in the first phase. As part of our Vision 2030 strategy, we continue our work on the establishment of the Turkey Chemistry Agency and the Chemistry Sector Council projects. The Turkish Cosmetics Sector Brand Development and Promotion Turquality Project has also been approved by our Ministry of Commerce. With this project, we aim to strengthen further in high-potential markets such as the USA, China, and Italy."

Pelister: "We must be prepared for global changes that will directly affect our exports"

Expressing that on behalf of Turkish chemical exporters they are focused on reading global trade changes well and leading the sector's transformation, Pelister stated: "We have important topics on our 2025 agenda that will affect the future of our chemical exports. One of them is the carbon border adjustment mechanism that will come into effect under the EU Green Deal framework. Until 31 December 2025, firms exporting to the EU in sectors covered by CBAM need to report their carbon emissions. However, from 1 January 2026, importers will be obliged to purchase CBAM certificates corresponding to the carbon content of the products they import.

This is a very critical change that will directly affect us. With CBAM, the increase in prices of high carbon content products could affect the competitiveness of Turkish exporters. Therefore, reducing the carbon footprint in the sector has become critical. Similarly, reducing our dependence on imports of raw materials is also of great importance. For this, we need at least 5 more petrochemical facilities in the medium term. As İKMİB, we are taking necessary steps with all our interlocutors and stakeholders to be prepared for the change in global trade, and we continue our discussions at the government level. In light of 2025's export route, we will continue our new market activities that will open the doors to more trade across a wide spectrum ranging from Africa to Latin America.

İKMİB will organize 47 export events to 25 countries in 2025
Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) will also organize a series of events in 2025 for chemical exporters to open doors to markets abroad on a product, country and region basis. Organizing 47 export activities to 25 countries this year, İKMİB's agenda includes 15 national participations, 6 info stands, 4 R&D Projects, 3 R&D Trade Missions, and 19 sectoral trade missions. In 2025, İKMİB will support chemical exporters with international participation export organizations targeting 16 subsectors, from the USA to Germany and from Pakistan to Australia.