IKMIB Honors Champions of Chemical Exports

Turkey's chemical sector, one of the country's top three exporting industries, achieved 14 billion dollars in exports in 2016. The Istanbul Chemical and Chemical Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) honored its members who recorded the highest export volumes last year for their accomplishments.

At the İKMİB 2016 Stars of Exports Awards ceremony held at Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center, 115 awards were presented across 23 categories.

The Istanbul Chemical and Chemical Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), representing 7,000 exporting companies across diverse chemical subsectors ranging from plastics to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals to rubber, and medical devices to paints and coatings, is encouraging sector representatives who achieved 14 billion dollars in exports in 2016 toward setting new records. The chemical sector, which sustains Turkey's industrial base and provides employment to over 300,000 people, has set an export target of 15.5 billion dollars for 2017. Following an increase of 17.41 percent in exports during the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year, reaching 5 billion 369 million dollars, the chemical sector's morale remains high. İKMİB organized the 2016 Stars of Exports ceremony to honor and encourage its member companies for their achievements, where 115 awards were presented across 23 different categories. The awards ceremony, hosted by İKMİB Board Chairman Murat Akyüz at Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center, was attended by: TİM President Mehmet Büyükekşi, Istanbul Chamber of Industry President Erdal Bahçıvan, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Board Vice Chair Şekip Avdagiç, İTHİB Board Chairman İsmail Gülle, İSTOÇ Board Chairman Nahit Kemalbay, Rubber Association Board Chairman Nurhan Kaya, TKSD Board Chairman Timur Erk, İMMİB General Secretary Armağan Vurdu, İKMİB Board Members, AKMİB Board Members and sector companies. At the event where the top five companies achieving the highest exports in chemical subsectors and product groups were honored, companies achieving success in newly added categories such as "Highest Value-Added Exports," "Exports to Target Countries," and "Increase in Number of Markets" were also recognized.  

At the ceremony, Istanbul Chemical and Chemical Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Board Chairman Murat Akyüz congratulated the award-winning companies and stated: "We have left behind a difficult year for our country.

Thanks to the strength we drew from one another, we were affected minimally by all the political and economic adversities that occurred. Our exporters, who have full faith in their country and its people, managed to preserve the positive outlook of the national economy despite all difficulties by continuing their efforts. Our chemical sector, offering products for every aspect of life from plastics to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals to paints and coatings, has strengthened its position among Turkey's most dynamic sectors through its recent export momentum. Our sector, which exports widely from Africa to South America and the Far East, with Europe as a primary market, increases its competitive strength year after year. I heartily congratulate all our companies that worked with great dedication in 2016 and delivered their products to over 200 countries. We believe that the Stars of Exports awards serve as an important source of motivation for our companies."

Noting that the chemical sector achieved 14 billion dollars in exports in 2016, Murat Akyüz stated that the sector's 2017 export target is 15.5 billion dollars and said: "Following a year that was not easy for our exporters, we started 2017 with record export increases.

In January-April, chemical exports reached 6 million 590 thousand tons with a 13.60 percent increase in volume and 5 billion 369 million dollars with a 17.41 percent increase in value compared to the same period last year. The top ten countries to which our chemical sector exported the most during this period were: United Arab Emirates, Germany, Iraq, Singapore, Egypt, United States, Italy, Spain, Iran and Malta. We maintained our third position after the automotive and ready-made garment and apparel sectors. With the record increases we achieved during the four-month period of the year, we believe we will easily reach our export target of 15.5 billion dollars set for 2017," he said. Turkey's Exporters Assembly (TİM) President Mehmet Büyükekşi, thanking İKMİB and Chairman Murat Akyüz for their contribution to the chemical sector and thus to Turkey's economy, stated: "Following a year that was extremely difficult both in our country and worldwide, in 2017 we are gradually leaving difficulties behind. Our economy and exports are recovering. Particularly looking at the situation, while protectionism is spreading rapidly worldwide and commodity prices saw abnormal declines over the past two years, this year on one hand commodity prices are rising while on the other hand global economic developments are proceeding very favorably for us. Our exports showed 8.8 percent growth in the first four months. We said 2017 would be a breakthrough year for exports. We are making very important progress toward reaching our targets in the first four months. All sectors must contribute to this increase. The chemical sector in particular is showing excellent performance this year. In 2016, with the rise in commodity prices and the chemical sector's beginning recovery, while Turkey's growth was 8.8 percent, the chemical sector achieved success with a 17.4 percent increase. The chemical sector is conducting important work on research and development. We can see globally successful companies through value-added production. Research and development spending in Turkey has exceeded 1 percent. When intellectual effort combines with hard work, innovative products emerge. This is why we must focus on research and development.

As TİM we are carrying out important activities in this regard. What remains for us is to increase Turkey's exports. Particularly after the referendum process, we will see an environment without elections for two years. Our focal point will be the economy," he said.