IKMIB 2025 Export Stars Awards Announced

Turkey's chemical industry, the country's second-largest exporting sector, crowned its 2025 export champions. At the "Stars of Exports Award Ceremony" organised by the Istanbul Exporters Association of Chemical Substances and Products (İKMİB), a total of 180 companies qualified to receive awards across 36 categories.

The chemical sector maintained its second-place position in Turkey's exports in 2025, generating approximately USD 32 billion in exports. The sector, which encompasses 16 sub-sectors including plastics, rubber, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, exports to 238 countries and regions while capturing 13.5 percent of Turkey's total exports.

180 Companies Honoured
The award ceremony, held for the 11th time by İKMİB this year, took place on 31 March 2026. At the ceremony, companies ranking in the top 5 in the chemical sector's sub-sectors and product groups were honoured, while plaques were presented to exporters in the top 3.

The ceremony, hosted by İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, was attended by Trade Minister Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Deputy Trade Minister Özgür Volkan Ağar and numerous sector representatives.

Minister Bolat: "Chemical exports will continue to grow"
Speaking at the ceremony, Trade Minister Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat highlighted the strategic importance of the chemical sector in Turkey's economy, emphasising that the sector's export performance would continue to increase.

Bolat noted that the chemical sector supplies inputs to virtually every industrial field, stating: "The chemical sector is present in 95 percent of all industrial products. As Turkey, we rank sixth globally and second in Europe in plastics. We also have strong production and export infrastructure in cosmetics, cleaning products and healthcare." He added that a support budget of TRY 45 billion has been allocated for 2026 to assist exporters.

Pelister: "Now we will talk about the value of exports"
İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister emphasised in his remarks that the chemical sector was Turkey's second-largest exporting sector with USD 31.9 billion in exports in 2025.

Highlighting the new era in global competition, Pelister made the following assessment:

"Competition is now won by manufacturing smarter, being more innovative and shifting from cost to value. Until now we have discussed the cost of exports, but from now on we will discuss the value of exports."

Strategic Projects for the Sector's Future
Pelister drew attention to two critical projects for the future of the chemical sector:

Chemical Technology Centre: Positioned as a centre that will accelerate innovation in the sector.
Turkey Chemistry Agency: A structure that will strengthen sector coordination and develop data-driven strategies.

Noting that the chemical sector plays a central role in energy transition, green agreement and digitalisation processes, Pelister stated that their objectives are to create high-value-added production and global brands. Concluding his remarks, Pelister congratulated the award-winning companies and emphasised that if the sector acts with a shared vision, Turkey could become one of the world's most powerful manufacturing hubs.