6,000 Companies Affiliated with İKMİB Exported $8 Billion in 2015

Awards Presented to 113 Chemical Exporters

The chemical sector, supplying products for every aspect of life from plastics to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals to paints, is consolidating its position among Turkey's most dynamic sectors through its recent export drive. Exporting across a wide range of destinations from Europe to Africa, South America and the Far East, the chemical sector achieved USD 15.5 billion in exports in 2015 despite global economic stagnation and instability in the Middle East, one of its key markets. The lion's share of approximately USD 8 billion, representing roughly 50 percent of Turkey's USD 15.5 billion chemical exports, belongs to 6,000 firms that are members of the Istanbul Chemical Manufacturers and Exporters Association (İKMİB). İKMİB held the "2015 Stars of Chemistry" awards ceremony for the first time this year, honoring 113 of its members who achieved the highest exports across 18 different categories. The chemical sector, ranking third among Turkey's highest-exporting sectors after Automotive and Apparel and Textile Manufacturing, supplies inputs to nearly all sectors, serving as the pulse of Turkish industry. From plastics to pharmaceuticals, medical devices to rubber products, paints to cosmetics, chemistry is found in almost every industrial branch. In addition to direct exports, the sector also accounts for a significant share of indirect exports through other sectors.

In 2015, chemical firms comprised 105 of Turkey's top 1,000 exporting companies. The total exports of these firms, approximately USD 14 billion, represent 12 percent of Turkey's total exports.

İKMİB has played a pioneering role in the export records broken by the chemical sector in recent years through activities such as international trade fairs with foreign participation, trade delegations, development of strategies to boost sub-sector export figures, new market analyses, R&D Project Markets and Design Competitions. The efforts have borne fruit. Chemical sector representatives today export to approximately 200 countries. Last year, İKMİB member firms of 6,000 companies realized USD 8 billion of Turkey's total USD 15.5 billion chemical exports. As one of Turkey's strongest exporter associations, İKMİB organized the "2015 Stars of Chemistry Awards Ceremony" for the first time this year to honor and encourage its member firms for their successes. The ceremony, held at Hyatt Regency Ataköy Hotel, began with the presentation of plaques to individuals who have served as Chairman of the Board since İKMİB's founding in 1991. Awards were presented to a total of 113 member companies, comprising the top 5 exporters in each of chemistry's 18 different product categories. Additionally, firms that achieved the fastest growth in exports in each category also received plaques. The ceremony was attended by İKMİB Board Chairman Murat Akyüz and Board Members, and attracted strong interest from the companies. Istanbul Chemical Manufacturers and Exporters Association (İKMİB) Board Chairman Murat Akyüz stated that they would continue to work with full force to take the value created by the chemical sector with its broad product range to even higher levels, saying:

"The chemical sector achieved being the third highest-exporting sector last year. In 2015, our country's exports reached USD 143.9 billion, while the chemical sector achieved exports of USD 15,469 million. Our exports declined by 13.3 percent in value compared to the previous year, but increased by 12.6 percent in volume.

This shows that our export efficiency increased but declines in derivative products reduced our exports in value terms. Chemical exports, which stood at USD 3.6 billion in 2003, reached USD 17.7 billion in 2014 with an increase of up to 400 percent over the 11-year period that followed. In 2015, the decline in oil and commodity prices, contraction in global trade volume, economic fluctuations in developing countries, and adverse conditions in regional and neighboring countries were reflected in our figures." Akyüz noted that the sector maintained its third-place ranking in the first five months of 2016 with exports of USD 5.7 billion, and that increasing chemical exports is among their greatest wishes; "When we evaluate our sector exports by product groups, we see a 10-fold increase in fertilizers, an 8-fold increase in adhesives and glues, a 5-fold increase in rubber and rubber products, and a 4-fold increase in plastics and plastic goods over the past 12 years. This tremendous growth shown by our sector in a relatively short period demonstrates the potential of our exporters and gives us hope for the future," he said. Saying that as İKMİB they take justified pride in realizing half of Turkey's total chemical sector exports with USD 8 billion in exports, Murat Akyüz stated: "We organized the Stars of Chemistry Awards Ceremony to honor the true architects of this success and to encourage new achievements. From mineral oils and fuels to plastics used in production across many areas from household products to construction and packaging, personal care and cosmetics products, soap, paints, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers – we awarded 113 of our firms that achieved the highest exports across 18 different product categories. I congratulate our firms that increased their exports despite all difficulties in 2015, when both the world and Turkish economy faced a difficult test, and that became the highest exporters in their respective categories. As always, İKMİB will continue to stand by our exporters," he concluded.