Turkey's chemical industry, one of the country's top export sectors, continues to show rising export performance. According to data from the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), chemical exports in January 2019 reached USD 1 billion 529 million, representing a 13.02% increase compared to January 2018.
The chemical sector, which played a major role in reaching the highest export figures in the history of the Republic during 2018, ranked as the second-largest exporting sector again in January 2019.
Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) Board Chairman Adil Pelister, commenting on the chemical industry's January export figures, stated:
"Our chemical sector drew a successful curve in 2018 and completed the year as the third sector with USD 17.4 billion in exports, after automobiles and ready-to-wear garments. We also made a good start in exports this year as the chemical sector.
In January, our sector achieved USD 1 billion 529 million in exports, representing a 13.02% increase compared to the same period last year. In line with our goal of ranking as the second-largest exporting sector on an annual basis, we also held second place in January 2019.
As İKMİB, we will continue to support our exporters with full force through the national participation fair organizations, sectoral trade delegations and purchasing delegations that we plan to carry out in 2019.
With awareness of the responsibility that falls upon us to achieve our country's USD 200 billion target set by our President, we will work even harder to increase our sector exports by 15% and reach the USD 20 billion threshold."
Spain Led Chemical Exports in January
Spain was the leading destination for chemical exports in January. Chemical exports to Spain amounted to USD 93 million 309 thousand in January 2018, rising to USD 118 million 946 thousand in the same period this year, a 27.48% increase.
In January 2019, exports to Spain consisted mainly of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products; plastics and plastic products; inorganic chemicals; fertilizers; rubber and rubber goods; organic chemicals; and essential oils, cosmetics and soaps.
Italy came in second with a 55.38% increase and USD 93 million 397 thousand in exports, while Egypt ranked third with a 2.10% increase and USD 79 million 554 thousand. The top ten countries for chemical exports were Spain, Italy, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malta.
Plastics and Plastic Products Led Subsector Exports
Among subsectors, plastics and plastic products exports ranked as the most exported product group in the chemical industry. In January, plastics and plastic products achieved the highest export volume, ranking first with USD 472 million 194 thousand 23 in exports.
Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked second with USD 423 million 195 thousand 819 in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with USD 128 million 755 thousand 369.
Other sectors in the top ten following inorganic chemicals were rubber and rubber goods; essential oils, cosmetics and soaps; pharmaceutical products; paints, varnishes, inks and preparations; organic chemicals; miscellaneous chemical substances; and fertilizers.
Countries with the Highest Chemical Exports in January 2019
| No. |
Country |
JANUARY 2018 VALUE ($) |
JANUARY 2019 VALUE ($) |
CHANGE (%) |
| 1 |
Spain |
93,309,154.48 |
118,946,134.42 |
27.48% |
| 2 |
Italy |
60,110,450.57 |
93,397,351.96 |
55.38% |
| 3 |
Egypt |
77,916,042.88 |
79,554,509.36 |
2.10% |
| 4 |
Germany |
77,685,462.54 |
78,587,108.74 |
1.16% |
| 5 |
Greece |
53,135,729.99 |
69,992,911.62 |
31.72% |
| 6 |
Iraq |
56,791,945.66 |
62,173,198.09 |
9.48% |
| 7 |
Iran (Islamic Republic) |
53,087,294.27 |
56,652,254.09 |
6.72% |
| 8 |
United States of America |
46,767,237.73 |
54,149,355.09 |
15.78% |
| 9 |
United Kingdom |
38,330,404.16 |
44,276,384.94 |
15.51% |
| 10 |
Malta |
27,605,851.02 |
35,685,362.10 |
29.27% |
Chemical Sector Exports by Month in January 2019
| |
|
|
2018-2019 |
| |
JANUARY 2018 |
JANUARY 2019 |
% CHANGE |
| Product Group |
Value ($) |
Value ($) |
Value |
| Plastics and Plastic Products |
427,289,459 |
472,194,023 |
10.51% |
| Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products |
303,363,931 |
423,195,819 |
39.50% |
| Inorganic Chemicals |
120,012,110 |
128,755,369 |
7.29% |
| Rubber and Rubber Goods |
115,692,226 |
111,691,194 |
-3.46% |
| Essential Oils, Cosmetics and Soaps |
81,256,721 |
81,396,404 |
0.17% |
| Pharmaceutical Products |
74,893,655 |
71,052,958 |
-5.13% |
| Paints, Varnishes, Inks and Preparations |
55,406,799 |
57,368,592 |
3.54% |
| Organic Chemicals |
55,267,388 |
49,738,580 |
-10.00% |
| Miscellaneous Chemical Substances |
42,723,002 |
43,344,794 |
1.46% |
| Fertilizers |
25,650,017 |
42,880,394 |
67.17% |
| Washing Preparations |
34,365,018 |
32,192,192 |
-6.32% |
| Adhesives, Glues, Enzymes |
15,738,399 |
14,674,314 |
-6.76% |
| Products Used in Photography and Cinematography |
1,148,368 |
686,303 |
-40.24% |
| Gunpowder, Explosives and Derivatives |
737,034 |
678,506 |
-7.94% |
| Glycerin, Plant Products, Degra, Fatty Substances |
102,293 |
49,135 |
-51.97% |
| Processed Asbestos and Mixtures, Products |
16,624 |
11,521 |
-30.69% |
| Total |
1,353,663,043 |
1,529,910,098 |
13.02% |
Chemical Exports on a Monthly Basis in 2019
| MONTH |
2018 VALUE ($) |
2019 VALUE ($) |
CHANGE (%) |
| January |
1,353,663,042.85 |
1,529,910,098.08 |
13.02% |
