The Plastics Industry Was Among the Export Champions of 2015

The Union of Turkish Exporters released its TİM 1000 Exporter list, which ranks the companies with the highest exports in 2015 and provides sectoral assessments. Fifty-eight companies from the plastics sector made the list; the data was compiled in line with analyses conducted by PAGDER on exports. Reha Gür, Chairman of the Board of Plastic Manufacturers Association (PAGDER), said in his assessment: "We are proud of the sector members on the list who are exporters. They achieved their exports even under the most intense competitive conditions. Now it is time to make moves to find higher-value-added products and new markets in exports." Fifty-eight companies from the plastics sector were included in the "TİM 1000 Exporter List" announced annually by the Union of Turkish Exporters. According to a statement from the Plastic Manufacturers Association (PAGDER), the 58 companies maintained their export levels in 2015 compared to the previous year. A total of 105 companies from the chemicals and chemical products sector, which includes the plastics sector, were listed by TİM. The chemicals and chemical products sector became Turkey's third-largest exporting sector with an 11.3% share and USD 9.329 billion.

Plastics has a stake in every exporting sector!

In his assessment of TİM data, PAGDER Board Chairman Reha Gür said: "Although our public and even economic circles may not be fully aware, plastics supplies finished and semi-finished products to all sectors. Looking at the sectors with the highest exports, we have a stake in virtually every exporting sector. We are among the main suppliers to the automotive sector, which ranks first in exports, and the apparel and confectionery sector, which ranks second. As the importance of plastics increases, the competitiveness of all our sectors will also increase. We work toward this goal," he said.

2015 was a challenging year

Reha Gür expressed pride in the exporters and companies in the sectors that made the list despite the most intense competitive conditions, and emphasized the need to increase efforts to find higher-value-added products and new markets in exports. Noting that 2015 was affected by global financial fluctuations in terms of exports, Reha Gür made the following assessments: "Despite geopolitical risks and crises, as well as economic problems in Europe, our main export market, we maintained our current level. If we add to this the fluctuations in exchange rates and parity effects, we can say that our companies have achieved great success. We know 2015 is over. Now we need to look to the future. Plastics is one of the sectors experiencing relatively intense competition in exports. Competition takes place with very small profit margins. The way to overcome this is to shift to higher-value-added products. This is necessary both for the exports and profitability-growth of our companies, and to provide a competitive advantage to other sectors we supply with finished and semi-finished products, thereby contributing to their exports," he said.

Every strategic step for the plastics sector means contribution to all other sectors!

Emphasizing that every strategic step for the plastics sector contributes to other sectors and to prosperity and quality of life from infrastructure, construction, food preservation, and environmental perspectives, Reha Gür said: "Unfortunately, there are still those who do not approach the plastics sector from this perspective. Our sector needs to be supported in the short term through access to raw materials, which we are forced to import because they cannot be produced domestically, access to financing channels, and export channels to find new markets and increase our effectiveness in existing markets. We continue our efforts in our sector strategies of R&D, domestic raw material production, and promotion of the plastics sector. As PAGDER, our main agenda is the transition to higher-value-added products and initiatives to find new markets in exports… Exports were our main agenda in the past, and it remains our main agenda now," he said.