Chemical Sector Focuses on High Value-Added Products

High-Value Innovative Products in the Chemical Sector AKMİB: "High-value innovative products will open new opportunities for the chemical sector" Saadettin Çağan, Chairman of the Board of AKMİB (AKMİB), stated that the establishment of research centers to develop high-value innovative products, combined with capitalizing on natural gas and oil discoveries, will increase the competitiveness of the Turkish chemical industry in international markets and open new opportunities. AKMİB Chairman Saadettin Çağan, highlighting that the chemical sector is projected to experience the highest growth in global import projections according to the sectors listed in the Turkish Exporters Council's 2021 Export Report, noted that global imports are expected to reach USD 5.8 trillion in 2025, USD 7.3 trillion in 2030, and USD 9.15 trillion in 2035. Chairman Çağan stated, "According to the same report, the largest development in Turkey's export projection is expected in the chemical sector after automotive. Our chemical substances and products exports reached USD 33.5 billion last year, exceeding the 2030 projection of USD 32 billion. I believe we can achieve the 2035 target of USD 42.2 billion in exports much earlier."

"Production technology for high-value chemicals is being developed in Chemical Valley"

Chairman Çağan also emphasized that the Chemical Substance Production Technologies Center—Chemical Valley—established in Adana, which is in AKMİB's service area, is conducting important work on developing production technology for high-value chemicals to reach the export targets projected for the chemical sector. Çağan stated, "Chemical Valley, which became operational in the early months of 2021 within the Çukurova University Technopark, is conducting work on developing production technology for high-value chemicals used in agriculture, textiles, cosmetics, food, packaging and automotive sectors, and presenting the feasibility-assessed chemicals to entrepreneurs and industrialists. Pesticides and fertilizers for agricultural production, pharmaceuticals for the healthcare sector, synthetic dyes and fibers for the textile industry, soaps and beauty chemicals for the cosmetics industry, synthetic sweeteners and flavors for the food industry, plastics and chemicals for the packaging industry, and synthetic rubber production for the automotive sector comprise Chemical Valley's main areas of work. We eagerly await the results of the work we expect to mature soon at Chemical Valley, which AKMİB also supports as a project partner, to be presented to our sector and our industrialists" he said.

"Results of hydrocarbon exploration in our land and seas are exciting"

Noting that energy is an important cost component in the Turkish chemical sector, which produces primarily petrochemical, soap, detergent, fertilizer, pharmaceutical, paint, varnish, synthetic fiber and soda and other chemical raw materials and consumer products, Çağan stated that exporting companies have strengthened their position in global markets thanks to the discounts on natural gas and electricity used in industry since April. Chairman Çağan noted that the introduction of the natural gas reserve discovered in the Black Sea into the national system last month would reduce energy imports and provide exporting companies with consumption opportunities at more favorable costs. Emphasizing that the strengthening of Turkey's drilling vessel fleet in hydrocarbon exploration activities and the newly discovered oil fields are exciting for the sector's future, Çağan said, "Turkey's access to hydrocarbon resources both on land and at sea will increase the number of petrochemical facilities in our country, which will undoubtedly reduce the chemical sector's dependence on imports, provide advantages in raw material costs, and increase the competitiveness of our exporting companies in global trade."  

"We achieved USD 319.8 million in exports in April"

Evaluating AKMİB's April export performance, Çağan announced that they reached a value of USD 319.8 million in that period. Analyzing regional exports by product groups and countries, Çağan said, "In April, our Association achieved the highest export values in mineral fuels and mineral oils, plastics and plastic products, and inorganic chemicals. We achieved USD 189 million in mineral fuels and mineral oils exports, USD 49.1 million in plastics and plastic products exports, and USD 37.4 million in inorganic chemicals exports. When we examined the countries to which we exported the most during this period, Italy, Spain and Romania were among the top of the list. We exported USD 69.3 million to Italy, USD 27.8 million to Spain, and USD 24.6 million to Romania" he said. Source