Umut Zenar, Sabancı Holding’s Head of Strategic Investments and Operations and Chairman of Çimsa’s Board, recalled that the company was founded in 1972 and began production at its Mersin plant in 1975. He noted that Çimsa has evolved into a global building materials player over the past 50 years.
Emphasizing that Türkiye remains the company’s main growth base, Zenar stated: “With our cement production facilities, we export to nearly 80 countries worldwide.”
Second Largest In White Cement, Third In CAC
Zenar underlined that Çimsa’s production facilities in Mersin, Afyon and Eskişehir stand out with sustainability-focused technologies and a value-added product portfolio.
He highlighted that the Mersin plant is the only facility in the world capable of producing grey cement, white cement and CAC within the same site. Zenar said: “With plants across three different continents, we are the world’s second largest player in white cement and the third largest in CAC.”
Exports To Nearly 80 Countries
Pointing to ongoing product and market diversification, Zenar said Çimsa continues to strengthen its export performance: “From the United States to Australia, from Italy to South Korea, we export to nearly 80 countries. Over the past five years, we have generated close to $1.5 billion in exports from Türkiye to global markets, and we are proud to contribute to Türkiye’s value-added export drive.”
CAC Capacity Expansion To Be Completed In The First Half
Zenar stressed that Türkiye remains Çimsa’s top priority, noting that investments in the country over the last five years have reached nearly $250 million.
He added that the additional CAC capacity expansion currently underway in Mersin is expected to be completed in the first half of this year. “Once this investment comes online, we will have the capacity to meet around 20% of global CAC demand outside of China,” he said.
R&D And Innovation Hub In Mersin
Zenar described the Mersin plant as one of the company’s key innovation centers, supported by Formülhane, the first R&D center in Türkiye’s cement industry.
He noted that Flycrete technology enables rapid repairs of heavy-load areas such as airport runways within three hours, making them ready for aircraft operations again. Rapidome, combining 3D technology with Çimsa’s special white concrete formulation, is designed to build future structures within 48 hours.
Çimsa has also strengthened its portfolio with Kratos construction reinforcement solutions, adding advanced synthetic fiber products.
Zenar concluded: “We deliver these value-added products developed and manufactured in Türkiye to global markets through our sales network spanning nearly 80 countries.”
