TURKISH CHEMICAL SECTOR & EXPORTS  IN TURKEY

Turkey has achieved an amazing economic transformation and adheres to global trade practices and regulations. It is a member of nearly all international political and economic organizations and is determinedly moving ever closer to harmonization with, and membership in, the European Union.

Consistently improving its world-standard modern infrastructure, Turkey, with its dynamic identity enhanced by a youthful and educated population of 70 million, is a leading actor in global trade, with annual exports exceeding $73 billion and a foreign trade volume that has reached $190 billion a year.

Turkey 's success in reaching this point is due in large part to the chemical and chemical products industry, a key sector of the 21 st century.

Acknowledged as one of the global "locomotive" sectors, the chemical and chemical products industry has high added value and employs state-of-the-art production technology.

By employing this advanced technology, the sector has made significant strides in production in recent years in terms of both quantity and quality, and now accounts for 8.4% of Turkey's total industrial production.

The sector has continuously expanded its export opportunities as a result of the superior quality of its products, with exports increasing 32.9% in 2005, to $6.64 billion, and accounting for 9.1% of Turkey's total exports.

A major share of the exports of the chemical and chemical products industry were destined for the most competitive market in the world: the European Union. The other major export markets were Central Asia and the Middle East, non-EU member European countries, North America and North Africa.

On a country-by-country basis, the most exports went to the United States, followed by Iraq in second place and Italy ranked third. These three countries were followed by the Russian Federation and Germany.

The Chemical Industry, which has achieved a solid history of export growth, prioritizes superior quality in production and products in order to maintain this success. While the added value of products are continuously being increased through Research and Development, innovative cutting-edge products are supplied to world markets.

As regards human health and the environment, both of which are crucial for the chemical industry, the sector has adopted a "Three-Pronged Commitment of Responsibility" that encompasses research, processing, product development, production and marketing, taking a proactive stance towards potential hazards.

Studies are currently underway for the establishment of advanced infrastructure in the chemical and chemical products industry in order to prevent environmental pollution in processes related to raw materials, production, and transportation of products and storage, as well as the establishment of Industrial Chemical Parks that will represent many important benefits in terms of shared usage of facilities and advantages offered contributing supplier industries.

Mineral fuels and oils, as well as plastics and other manufactured products, constitute the bulk of the exports of the Turkish chemical and chemical products industry.

The leading exports of the Turkish chemicals sector, which has the advantage of proximity to the raw materials of the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Russia, are mineral oils and products, with plastic s and plastic products in second place, followed in third place by soaps and detergents.

Ranked fourth are inorganic chemicals, which supply raw materials and intermediate products to the Chemical Industry, followed in fifth place by rubber and rubber products.

With its rapid growth and development in recent years, the Turkish pharmaceutical products industry is ranked sixth, organic chemicals seventh and the paint industry, which has the technology to compete globally, is in eighth place.

The perfume and cosmetic sector, too, is becoming increasingly competitive and is currently ranked ninth.

Turkey has achieved today's competitive edge in the chemical and chemical products industry, which is acknowledged as one of the most promising sectors of the 21 st century, through continuous advances in state-of-the-art technology, highly skilled specialists, adoption of a contemporary management model, adherence to the principle of total quality, respect for universal values, chief among them protection of the environment, rapid delivery and a competitive pricing policy.

The Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters' Association has been instrumental in helping the chemical industry achieve its export potential and enhance its ability to compete on the global market.

The Turkish chemical and chemical products industry is ready to share all the benefits derived from Turkey's amazing potential and its high-quality, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly products.