From petrochemical powerhouses to pioneering green initiatives, Turkey's chemical industry is surging with a 12.4% market growth to $28.5 billion, solidifying its role as a dynamic and strategic European hub.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey's chemical industry produced 12.5 million tons of basic chemicals in 2022, marking a 8.7% increase from 2021.
- PET resin production capacity in Turkey stood at 1.2 million tons per annum as of 2023, led by SASA Polyester.
- Turkey's polypropylene (PP) production reached 850,000 tons in 2022, with Petkim contributing 65%.
- The Turkish chemicals market was valued at $28.5 billion in 2022, growing 12.4% YoY.
- Petrochemicals accounted for 42% of Turkey's chemical industry revenue in 2023, totaling $14.2 billion.
- Fertilizers segment generated $6.8 billion in sales in Turkey in 2022.
- Turkey chemical exports totaled $12.3 billion in 2022, up 22% from prior year.
- Chemical imports to Turkey reached $22.1 billion in 2023, mainly petrochemicals.
- Turkey exported 4.2 million tons of chemicals in 2022 to 180 countries.
- Turkey chemical industry employs 320,000 people directly in 2023.
- Petkim holds 25% market share with 8,500 employees in 2022.
- There are 1,250 chemical manufacturing companies in Turkey as of 2023.
- FDI in Turkey's chemicals reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
- R&D spending in chemical industry was 1.8% of revenue or $510 million in 2023.
- 45 new chemical plants commissioned with $3.5 billion investment in 2022-2023.
Turkey's chemical industry showed strong growth across production, exports, and sustainability investments.
Employment and Companies
- Turkey chemical industry employs 320,000 people directly in 2023.
- Petkim holds 25% market share with 8,500 employees in 2022.
- There are 1,250 chemical manufacturing companies in Turkey as of 2023.
- Fertilizer sector employs 45,000 workers across 28 plants in 2022.
- Paints industry has 420 firms employing 55,000 in Turkey 2023.
- Soda ash production by Eti Soda employs 2,100 staff in 2022.
- Plastics sector features 5,200 companies with 210,000 jobs in 2023.
- TKSD represents 185 major chemical firms in Turkey.
- Mersin chemical cluster has 150 companies employing 28,000 in 2022.
- SASA Polyester employs 4,200 in PET production as of 2023.
- Izmir chemical park hosts 90 firms with 15,500 workers in 2022.
- Detergents industry 320 companies, 38,000 employees in Turkey 2023.
- Adana petrochemical complex employs 12,000 directly in 2022.
- Rubber chemicals firms number 85, employing 9,200 in 2023.
- Dyes and pigments sector has 210 SMEs with 12,500 jobs in 2022.
- Water chemicals companies total 140, 8,900 employees in Turkey 2023.
- Agrochemical manufacturers 75 firms, 11,000 staff in 2022.
- Industrial gases sector 45 companies employing 6,500 in 2023.
- Surfactants producers 60 firms, 7,200 workers in Turkey 2022.
- Specialty chemicals 380 companies, 22,000 jobs in 2023.
- Cosmetics chemicals SMEs 250, employing 14,000 in 2022.
- Catalysts manufacturers 35 firms with 4,100 employees 2023.
- Polymer additives companies 120, 10,500 staff in Turkey 2022.
Employment and Companies Interpretation
While Turkey's chemical sector proudly employs 320,000 souls, its landscape is a mosaic where a single giant like Petkim commands a quarter of the kingdom with a modest court of 8,500, while over a thousand other noble houses, from fertilizer fortresses to specialty fiefdoms, busily stir their own potent brews.
Exports and Imports
- Turkey chemical exports totaled $12.3 billion in 2022, up 22% from prior year.
- Chemical imports to Turkey reached $22.1 billion in 2023, mainly petrochemicals.
- Turkey exported 4.2 million tons of chemicals in 2022 to 180 countries.
- Plastics exports from Turkey valued $5.8 billion in 2023.
- Fertilizer exports hit $2.9 billion in 2022, primarily to Europe and Africa.
- Turkey's paint exports reached 450,000 tons worth $1.2 billion in 2023.
- Petrochemical exports grew 18% to $6.4 billion in 2022.
- Chemical imports from China accounted for 28% or $6.2 billion in 2023.
- Turkey exported $1.1 billion in man-made fibers in 2022.
- Soda ash exports totaled 1.5 million tons valued at $450 million in 2023.
- PVC exports from Turkey were 320,000 tons in 2022, worth $680 million.
- Organic chemical imports rose to $9.8 billion in 2023.
- Turkey's EU chemical exports reached $4.5 billion in 2022.
- Iron oxide pigments exports $180 million in 2023 from Turkey.
- Chemical trade deficit for Turkey was $9.8 billion in 2022.
- Exports of pharmaceuticals intermediates $920 million in 2023.
- Turkey imported 2.1 million tons of polymers in 2022.
- Middle East chemical exports from Turkey $1.3 billion in 2023.
- Adhesives exports totaled $320 million in 2022.
- Turkey's US chemical imports $1.4 billion in 2023.
- Dyes exports reached $250 million in 2022 from Turkey.
- Rubber chemicals imports $410 million in 2023.
- Agrochemical exports $580 million to neighboring countries in 2022.
Exports and Imports Interpretation
Turkey is sprinting to a $22 billion chemical export finish line, but its import bill is a stubborn anchor dragging a nearly $10 billion deficit behind it.
Investments and Sustainability
- FDI in Turkey's chemicals reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
- R&D spending in chemical industry was 1.8% of revenue or $510 million in 2023.
- 45 new chemical plants commissioned with $3.5 billion investment in 2022-2023.
- Renewable energy use in chemicals rose to 22% of total energy in 2023.
- Carbon capture projects invested $280 million in Turkey chemicals by 2022.
- Circular economy initiatives recycled 1.2 million tons of plastics in 2023.
- $850 million allocated to green chemistry R&D in 2022 national plan.
- Water recycling rate in chemical plants reached 68% in 2023.
- Bio-based chemicals production capacity grew 15% to 150,000 tons in 2022.
- Energy efficiency investments saved $420 million in costs in 2023.
- 120 chemical firms adopted ISO 14001 sustainability certification by 2022.
- Hydrogen production projects $1.1 billion investment planned for 2024-2028.
- Waste-to-energy plants in chemicals invested $190 million in 2022.
- Low-carbon fertilizers developed with $320 million EU funding in 2023.
- Digital transformation investments $650 million in chemical sector 2022.
- 35% reduction in VOC emissions achieved via $210 million tech upgrades 2023.
- Sustainable packaging chemicals $140 million market investment in 2022.
- EV battery chemicals R&D $450 million funded in 2023.
- Zero-waste certification for 80 chemical plants by end-2022.
- Green hydrogen pilot plants $75 million investment in Mersin 2023.
- Bioplastics production lines $290 million capex in 2022.
- Emission trading scheme participation by 150 chemical firms in 2023.
- Solar power capacity in chemical parks reached 250 MW in 2022.
- Nanotechnology chemicals R&D centers invested $110 million 2023.
- Organic fertilizer innovations $180 million grants in 2022.
- AI-optimized processes saved $95 million in 50 chemical plants 2023.
Investments and Sustainability Interpretation
While Turkey's chemicals industry is clearly building a modern and sustainable future with serious investment, one can't help but admire the sheer audacity of spending over a billion dollars on green R&D while simultaneously perfecting the art of turning trash into cash.
Market Size and Revenue
- The Turkish chemicals market was valued at $28.5 billion in 2022, growing 12.4% YoY.
- Petrochemicals accounted for 42% of Turkey's chemical industry revenue in 2023, totaling $14.2 billion.
- Fertilizers segment generated $6.8 billion in sales in Turkey in 2022.
- Paints and coatings market in Turkey reached $2.9 billion in 2023.
- Plastics and polymers revenue in Turkey was $11.7 billion in 2022.
- Pharmaceuticals chemicals subsector valued at $4.1 billion in Turkey's market in 2023.
- Specialty chemicals market size in Turkey grew to $3.2 billion in 2022.
- Detergents and cleaners generated $2.5 billion revenue in 2023 in Turkey.
- Basic inorganic chemicals revenue totaled $5.6 billion in Turkey in 2022.
- Turkey's chemical industry GDP contribution was 2.1% or $18.4 billion in 2023.
- Man-made fibers market revenue hit $1.9 billion in 2022 in Turkey.
- Adhesives and sealants sector valued at $1.3 billion in Turkey 2023.
- Turkey's dyes and pigments market reached $850 million in 2022.
- Rubber chemicals revenue was $720 million in Turkey's industry in 2023.
- Water treatment chemicals market size $650 million in 2022 Turkey.
- Turkey's agrochemicals revenue totaled $2.2 billion in 2023.
- Cosmetics raw materials market valued at $1.1 billion in 2022.
- Industrial gases sector revenue $950 million in Turkey 2023.
- Turkey's surfactants market size reached $580 million in 2022.
- Flavors and fragrances chemicals $420 million revenue in 2023 Turkey.
- Catalysts market valued at $310 million in Turkey in 2022.
- Turkey's polymers additives revenue $890 million in 2023.
- Electronic chemicals market size $240 million in 2022 Turkey.
- Food additives chemicals $560 million revenue in Turkey 2023.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
While Turkey's chemical industry shows robust growth and diversification, with everything from essential fertilizers to glamorous cosmetics raw materials, it is a sector still firmly anchored—and financially beholden—to the volatile tides of petrochemicals.
Production and Capacity
- Turkey's chemical industry produced 12.5 million tons of basic chemicals in 2022, marking a 8.7% increase from 2021.
- PET resin production capacity in Turkey stood at 1.2 million tons per annum as of 2023, led by SASA Polyester.
- Turkey's polypropylene (PP) production reached 850,000 tons in 2022, with Petkim contributing 65%.
- Fertilizer production in Turkey totaled 7.8 million tons in 2022, including 4.2 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers.
- Turkey's paint and coatings output was 1.45 million tons in 2023, up 5.2% year-on-year.
- Soda ash production capacity in Turkey is 2.3 million tons annually, with Eti Soda as the largest producer at 1.6 million tons.
- PVC production in Turkey hit 450,000 tons in 2022, primarily from Petkim and Egepen.
- Turkey manufactured 320,000 tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in 2023.
- Aniline production capacity expanded to 180,000 tons per year by 2023 in Turkey's industrial zones.
- Turkey's caustic soda production reached 1.1 million tons in 2022, serving soap and paper sectors.
- Cumene production in Turkey was 250,000 tons in 2023, supporting phenol manufacturing.
- Turkey's chemical fiber production totaled 1.8 million tons in 2022, with polyester fibers at 1.4 million tons.
- Phosphate fertilizer production capacity is 3.2 million tons annually in Turkey as of 2023.
- Turkey produced 620,000 tons of methanol in 2022 from coal-based plants.
- Styrene monomer production reached 400,000 tons in Turkey in 2023.
- Turkey's titanium dioxide (TiO2) output was 85,000 tons in 2022.
- Acrylonitrile production capacity stands at 150,000 tons per year in Turkey's Mersin region.
- Turkey manufactured 950,000 tons of urea in 2023 for agricultural use.
- Chlorine production totaled 420,000 tons in 2022 across 12 plants in Turkey.
- Turkey's benzene production was 380,000 tons in 2023 from refineries.
- Adipic acid production capacity is 120,000 tons annually in Turkey as of 2023.
- Turkey produced 210,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizers in 2022.
- Polysulfone production in Turkey reached 25,000 tons in 2023 for specialty applications.
- Turkey's hydrogen peroxide output was 180,000 tons in 2022.
- Caprolactam production capacity expanded to 100,000 tons per year by 2023 in Izmir.
- Turkey manufactured 1.2 million tons of detergents precursors in 2023.
- Glycol ethers production totaled 90,000 tons in Turkey in 2022.
- Turkey's phthalic anhydride output reached 220,000 tons in 2023.
- Maleic anhydride production was 75,000 tons in 2022 from 5 facilities.
- Turkey produced 550,000 tons of linear alkylbenzene (LAB) in 2023.
Production and Capacity Interpretation
From fertilizers fueling crops to polymers packaging products, Turkey's chemical industry is not just mixing compounds but concocting the very ingredients for its economic growth and self-sufficiency, one metric ton at a time.
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