PLASFED Chairman Karadeniz: Recovery in Industry is Promising, Next Comes Lasting Growth

Türkiye ekonomisi 2026 yılının ikinci çeyreğinde yüzde 2,3 büyürken, ilk çeyrekte yüzde 0,8 daralan sanayi sektörü ikinci çeyrekte yüzde 2,4 büyüme kaydetti. PLASFED Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı Ömer Karadeniz, sanayide yeniden büyüme ivmesi yakalanmasını olumlu karşılarken, toparlanmanın kalıcı hale gelmesi için finansman koşullarının iyileştirilmesi, üretim maliyetlerinin düşürülmesi ve ihracatın desteklenmesi gerektiğini vurguladı.

While the Turkish economy grew by 2.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). Seasonally and calendar adjusted GDP increased by 1.1 percent compared to the previous quarter.

Among the economic activity branches, the 2.4 percent growth of industry drew attention, and the sector's return to growth following the 0.8 percent contraction recorded in the first quarter of the year was evaluated as a sign of recovery on the production front.

Evaluating the growth data, Plastics Industrialists' Federation (PLASFED) Board of Directors Chairman Ömer Karadeniz stated that industry regaining growth momentum is a positive development for Türkiye's economy in terms of production capacity.

Karadeniz, drawing attention to the need for the recovery in industry to become sustainable, said the following:

"The industrial sector's 2.4 percent growth in the second quarter, following the 0.8 percent contraction it experienced in the first quarter of the year, is promising in terms of showing that renewed momentum has begun on the production front. However, for Türkiye to be able to enter a sustainable and high-quality growth path, this recovery in industry needs to become permanent."

"Growth in industry alone is not sufficient"
Stating that Türkiye's sustainable economic growth depends on strengthening production and industry, Karadeniz said that focus should be placed not only on the growth rate but also on the quality of growth.

Noting that industrialists are facing high financing costs, energy and raw material expenses, labor costs, and global competitive pressure, Karadeniz stated that these conditions are straining the competitiveness of industry.

Karadeniz included the following statements in his evaluation:

"The 2.4 percent growth of industry is an important and valuable development. However, the high financing costs, energy and raw material expenses, labor costs, and global competitive pressure that our industrialists face today continue. In order to make the growth achieved under these conditions permanent, policies that will lower production costs and support investments need to be strengthened."

"The plastics sector is one of the cornerstones of industrial production"
Drawing attention to the fact that the plastics sector supplies inputs to numerous sectors, primarily automotive, packaging, construction, and healthcare, Karadeniz emphasized the sector's strategic role in Türkiye's production and export capacity.

Stating that the plastics sector is not limited only to traditional production areas but is also undergoing a significant transformation in terms of technology and innovation, Karadeniz said they expect the recovery in industry to also be reflected in the plastics sector.

Karadeniz continued as follows:

"The plastics industry is one of the fundamental sectors of Türkiye's production ecosystem. Therefore, we want the recovery in industry to be strongly reflected in the plastics sector as well. For this, the problems experienced in raw materials, financing, and energy costs, where our sector is highly dependent on external sources, need to be resolved. We must transition to a higher value-added and more competitive structure while preserving our production capacity."

Karadeniz stated that in order for the growth in industry to be sustainable, it is important to strengthen the investment environment, bring production costs down to competitive levels, and support export-oriented sectors.