Chemical Sector Ranks as Second-Largest Exporting Sector in 2020

According to data from İKMİB (Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association), chemical sector exports in December 2020 fell by 1.25% to USD 1 billion 804 million. The sector closed 2020 as the second-largest exporting sector with USD 18 billion 313 million in exports. Evaluating December export figures for the chemical sector, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister stated: "Our chemical sector's December exports reached USD 1.8 billion, while annual exports totaled USD 18.3 billion. This represents a 1.25% decline compared to December of last year. We can attribute this contraction to the decline in energy demand resulting from lockdowns due to the pandemic and the contraction of global markets. However, despite the pandemic, our sector continued exports with significant effort. COVID-19 products in our sector such as disinfectants, cologne, soap, diagnostic kits and pharmaceuticals stood out during the pandemic and set export records. Additionally, single-use plastic products and packaging products increased their production and exports. Our sector exported to 208 countries and regions in December. The top three countries to which we exported the most chemicals in December were Iraq, Germany and the United States. Our exports to the United States increased by 67.46% in December, while exports to the United Kingdom rose by 60.37%. Despite all adversities, we managed to be Turkey's second-largest exporting sector in 2020, as we were in 2019. I commend all our exporters who contributed to this success."  

Iraq was the top export destination in December

Iraq was the leading export destination in December. Other countries in the top ten following Iraq in December were Iraq, Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Belgium, Italy, Israel and Lebanon. Of the top 10 export destinations in December, 7 saw increased exports, while exports to Egypt, Italy and Lebanon contracted. Among these countries, the largest increases were to the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States. Chemical exports to Iraq totaled USD 106 million 570 thousand in December 2020. The main exports to Iraq in December were "plastics and plastic products," "pharmaceutical products," "essential oils, cosmetics and soap," "paints, varnish, ink and preparations," "miscellaneous chemical substances" and "washing preparations."  

December saw the largest exports of "plastics and plastic products"

In December, among chemical substances and products groups, plastics and plastic products exports ranked first in chemical exports with USD 642 million 881 thousand. Second place was held by mineral fuels, mineral oils and products with USD 291 million 529 thousand in exports, while inorganic chemicals exports ranked third with USD 152 million 478 thousand. Following 'inorganic chemicals,' other sectors in the top ten were 'essential oils, cosmetics and soap,' 'pharmaceutical products,' 'rubber and rubber products,' 'paints, varnish, ink and preparations,' 'miscellaneous chemical substances,' 'organic chemicals' and 'washing preparations.' In December, the largest export growth among subsectors was 81.99% in the organic chemicals sector, while the largest contraction was 50.90% in the mineral fuels, mineral oils and products sector.

2020 monthly chemical exports

 

Top chemical exporting countries in December 2020

 

Chemical sector subsectors in December 2020 exports