Exports Reached 238 Markets and Value Rose Above $1/kg
Speaking at the chemical industry’s annual review meeting held at the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Istanbul Foreign Trade Complex, Adil Pelister, President of the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters’ Association (İKMİB), said the sector entered 2026 with a $35 billion export target.
Pelister noted that the chemical industry exported to 238 countries and regions in 2025, and successfully lifted export value back above $1 per kilogram, highlighting improved competitiveness.
Chemicals Account for 13.5% of Turkey’s Total Exports
Pelister emphasized that the chemical sector maintained a strong position in Turkey’s export basket, accounting for 13.5% of total exports. He added that 12 out of 16 chemical sub-sectors increased exports last year, while imports fell by 8.8%, which he described as a positive sign for reducing dependence on imported raw materials and intermediates.
Plastics Led Sub-Sectors, UAE Recorded the Sharpest Growth
According to Pelister, Turkey’s chemical exports totaled $31.9 billion in 2025. The leading sub-sectors were:
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Plastics and plastic products: $9.6 billion
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Mineral fuels and products: $7.1 billion
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Inorganic chemicals: $3.7 billion
He said the Netherlands was Turkey’s top export destination, followed by Romania, Italy, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the US, Russia, Iraq, and the UK.
Among the top 20 markets, the United Arab Emirates recorded the largest increase, with exports rising 346.13% and reaching $1.3 billion, Pelister added.
Pelister: “Our Biggest Wish Is to Scale Up and Move Into Higher Value Exports”
Pelister underlined the sector’s strategic importance, noting that the chemical industry directly supports 27 major industries through its 16 sub-sectors and remains one of Turkey’s key export engines.
Despite global challenges, he said the sector closed the year with 3.8% annual growth.
“We stepped into this year with a $35 billion target,” Pelister said. “Looking ahead, our biggest wish is for our industry to scale up and make a leap in exports with higher value-added products.”
Chemistry Technology Center Gains International Accreditation
Pelister also announced that the Chemistry Technology Center has completed its accreditation process, meaning the tests, analyses, and certification carried out in its laboratories now have international validity.
He highlighted that 39 tests previously conducted abroad will now be performed in Turkey for the first time, providing exporters with significant cost and time advantages. The center also includes a broader ecosystem, from an incubation hub to a digital library.
42 Export Events Planned Across 25 Countries
As part of its Vision 2030 roadmap, Pelister said the sector has moved forward with steps toward establishing a Turkey Chemicals Agency. He also outlined the export promotion agenda for 2026, stating that İKMİB plans to organize 42 export activities across 25 countries.
The program includes:
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17 national participations
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17 sectoral trade delegations
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5 info stands
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3 UR-GE projects
Source: AA
