Chemical Industry, Export Champion, Convenes at Turkchem International Chemical Industry Fairs

TURKCHEM, the chemical industry's most comprehensive fair in Turkey and the EMEA Region and the only and largest fair in the Eurasian Region, brought together 769 companies and company representatives from 62 countries and 11,931 professional visitors in Istanbul between 8-10 November 2018. The top five countries with the highest visitor participation at the fair were Iran, Iraq, Germany, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey's second most-exporting sector, the Chemical Industry, comprises more than 10,000 companies, 424 of which are foreign-capital partnerships, and provides employment to 500,000 people. The sector, which has managed to turn the global crisis into an opportunity, is expected to close 2018 with 8.5% growth in the domestic market and 15% export increase, with export figures of 17 billion dollars. Reaching export figures of 1.6 billion dollars in October and making important contributions to the country's economy, the chemical sector gathered at the International Chemical Industry Fair TURKCHEM, said Artkim Exhibitions General Manager Cengiz Yaman, "We had a very successful fair, reaching our targets with both our exhibitor and visitor numbers. This year at the International Chemical Fair TURKCHEM, held 8-10 November at Istanbul Expo Center, we hosted a total of 769 companies and company representatives, 297 of which were direct exhibitors. Over three days, we had participation from 11,931 visitors from 62 countries. Our top international visitors came respectively from Iran, Iraq, Germany, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Libya, Russia and Tunisia," he said.

International Chemical Industry Fair TURKCHEM hosted 54 events over 3 days…

Stating that the International Chemical Industry Fair TURKCHEM is a common meeting platform where the latest technological developments in the sector are discussed, Yaman noted that alongside the main panel titled "Problems, Solution Proposals and Opportunities in the Chemical Sector" featuring important representatives from the chemical industry including TIM Sector Council Member Murat Akyüz, Turkey Chemical Manufacturers Association (TKSD) President Haluk Erceber, MetroHM Turkey CEO Andre Yanço, TOBB-Chemical Industry Council Advisor and Maltepe University Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Serdar S. Çelebi and Mineral Oil and Petroleum Products Manufacturers Association (MAPESAD) Board Chairman Tayfun Koçak as speakers, they hosted a total of 54 events.

"One of the biggest problems in the chemical sector is land investment"

Speaking at the panel, TIM Sector Council Member Murat Akyüz pointed out that the chemical sector lacks investment facilities in terms of raw materials in Turkey. Although Turkey is a decisive country in terms of prices on the world market, Akyüz emphasized that it is not in the same position regarding production, and noted that due to narrowing markets in neighboring countries, exports to the EU have increased, but closer ties to America and Far Eastern countries should also be developed. Akyüz said, "One of the biggest problems in the chemical sector is land investment. Unfortunately, with the capital you have, you invest in land and concrete. When you then seek financing for what comes next, banks value the land you invested 10 million dollars in at 3 million dollars. First, these lands should be priced reasonably and a sector-specific, company-specific incentive system should be created in Turkey."

"We can close the gap between imports and exports through domestic and national projects"

Informing that despite economic problems experienced worldwide and in our country during the year, the chemical sector will close 2018 with a growth rate of 8.5% in the domestic market, Turkey Chemical Manufacturers Association (TKSD) President Haluk Erceber said the foreign market export growth rate would be 15%. Erceber added to his remarks that export figures are expected to reach 17 billion dollars by year-end, and the chemical sector's share in the foreign trade deficit is expected to reach 24.2 billion dollars. Emphasizing that the gap between imports and exports can be closed through domestic and national projects, Erceber said, "The sector uses 70% imported raw materials. In this sense, we are dependent on foreign sources. Unfortunately, one of the sector's biggest problems is the inability to scale up. We need to scale up both in investment and in turnover terms. There has been a serious slowdown in large-scale investments. Exports are increasing but we have not yet managed to increase product diversity. We need to do this. Today the chemical industry feeds 30 different sectors and is open to growth," he said. President Erceber also emphasized that fairs like TURKCHEM should be held frequently in terms of promoting the sector abroad. The International Chemical Fair TURKCHEM was organized in 3 main categories as ChemShow Eurasia: 8th International Special, Specific Chemicals, General Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Chemical Intermediate Products Fair, ChemLab Eurasia: 8th International Laboratory, Technology, Testing & Measurement Equipment, Auxiliary and Consumables Fair and ChemTech Eurasia: 8th International Chemical Process and Automation Industry, Packaging, Recycling, Logistics, Occupational Safety and Environmental Technologies Fair.

About Artkim Exhibitions

Since 2001, Artkim Group has set out to serve only the chemical sector; it is an organization providing services in the fields of Exhibitions, Publishing, Agency and Human Resources Consulting. Artkim Exhibitions, one of the companies under Artkim Group, entered the exhibitions sector in 2006 with the TURKCHEM ChemShow Eurasia brand; today it has brought a total of 13 different specialized fairs to the sector. Sector-leading sectoral fairs organized by Artkim Exhibitions Tic. A.Ş.: "International Chemical Industry Fairs" TURKCHEM ChemShow Eurasia, ChemTech Eurasia, Chemlab Eurasia, "Dyes, Pigments, Textile Chemicals, Digital Textile Printing, Dyeing and Printing Technologies Fair" Interdye & Textile Printing Eurasia, "International Adhesives, Fillers, Production and Application Equipment Fair" Adhesive & Sealant Eurasia, "International Paints, Paint Raw Materials, Construction Chemicals and Adhesive Raw Materials, Laboratory and Production Equipment Fair and Congress" Paintistanbul & Turkcoat, "International Industrial Coating Technologies Fair" PaintExpo Eurasia, "Surface Treatment, Galvanizing Chemicals and Technologies Fair" STT SURTECH Eurasia, "International Polyurethane Industry Fair" Putech Eurasia, "International Composites Industry Fair" Eurasian Composites Show, "Cosmetics, Personal Care, Detergent and Home Care Product Components, Raw Materials and Technologies Fair" Cosmetics & Home Care Ingredients, "Pharmaceutical Components Raw Materials and Technologies Fair" Pharmaist and "International Food, Nutritional Components, Chemicals and Technologies Fair" Food & Nutritional Ingredients.