Global Outlook: Turkey | AIChE

Global Outlook: Turkey

     Turkey’s chemicals industry can be traced back to the establishment of the first chemistry department at the only university in Istanbul in 1918 and saw tremendous growth after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The industry initially focused on domestic markets with manufacturing processes based on technology licensed from Europe and the U.S. The first manufacturing plants produced cement, sugar, fertilizer, glass, boric acid, soda, and paper. In 1961, the first large-scale refinery was built in Turkey, followed by the first petrochemicals complex in 1962.
     The chemicals industry in Turkey has evolved since its start, expanding into global markets. Today, Turkey’s chemicals industry sells 30% of its chemicals directly to customers and 70% to other industrial sectors, including basic metals, mining, machinery, and electronics; agriculture; construction; textiles; paper products; and automotive. The industry consists of very small companies, many of which employ fewer than 50 people. Several mergers and acquisitions of Turkish chemicals companies have occurred during the 2008–2013 time period. Some examples include DowAksa, the 50:50 joint venture between Dow Chemical and Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii established in 2012; Brenntag’s acquisition of Aromaster and Trend Gida in 2008; and Nitto Dinko’s acquisition of Bento Bantçılık ve Temizlik Maddeleri Sanayi Ticaret in 2012.

Tags 

Paints and coatings
Textiles
Construction services
Paper products

Date 

May, 2015