According to data from Istanbul Chemical Manufacturers and Exporters Association (
İKMİB), chemical sector exports reached $1.557 billion in March 2020. Chemical exports declined 15.6% compared to March of the previous year, while rising 3% compared to February 2020. The sector's three-month exports reached $4.771 billion.
The Netherlands was the leading export destination in March with $104.999 million in chemical exports. The United States followed in second place with $83.255 million in exports, while Germany ranked third with $79.230 million in exports.
Assessing March chemical sector export figures, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister stated: "We are seeing the effects of the global
coronavirus pandemic in our chemical sector as well.
We achieved $1.557 billion in chemical exports in March, while our three-month chemical exports reached $4.771 billion. While there is a 15.6% decline compared to last year, we see a 3% increase when looking at the previous month.
Despite all challenges, we are not stopping our exports and are attempting to use different logistics channels in line with recommendations from our Ministry of Commerce. Railway, air cargo transport and maritime routes are particularly gaining prominence during this period.
On road routes, contactless trade is being conducted. What matters most in this critical period is human health and our country's needs. As İKMİB, we are acting accordingly."
Netherlands becomes top export destination in March
The Netherlands was the leading export destination in March. Other leading countries in the top ten following the Netherlands in March were the United States, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Romania, United Kingdom, Israel, Italy and Egypt.
Chemical exports to the Netherlands reached $104.999 million in March 2020. The main exports to the Netherlands in March included "mineral fuels, mineral oils and products", "plastics and articles thereof", "essential oils, cosmetics and soaps", "rubber and rubber articles", "inorganic chemicals", "miscellaneous chemical products" and "washing preparations".
For the three-month period of January-March 2020, the leading chemical export destinations in the top ten were the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Iraq, United States, Belgium, Spain, Egypt, United Kingdom and Israel respectively.
March records highest exports in "plastics and articles thereof" category
In March, plastics and articles thereof exports ranked first in chemical products and manufactures with $514.596 million. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products ranked second with $341.688 million in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with $131.939 million in exports. Other sectors in the top ten following inorganic chemicals include: 'essential oils, cosmetics and soaps', 'rubber and rubber articles', 'pharmaceutical products', 'miscellaneous chemical products', 'paints, varnishes, inks and preparations', 'washing preparations' and 'organic chemicals'.
2020 monthly chemical exports
| MONTH |
2019 VALUE ($) |
2020 VALUE ($) |
DIFFERENCE (%) |
| January |
1,541,013,096.05 |
1,700,031,613.94 |
10.32% |
| February |
1,646,217,599.10 |
1,514,096,959.86 |
-8.03% |
| March |
1,844,949,435.52 |
1,557,198,498.10 |
-15.60% |
March 2020 leading chemical export destinations
| NO. |
Country |
MARCH 2019 VALUE ($) |
MARCH 2020 VALUE ($) |
CHANGE VALUE (%) |
| 1 |
NETHERLANDS |
57,871,545.45 |
104,999,826.57 |
81.44% |
| 2 |
UNITED STATES |
70,797,164.47 |
83,255,413.34 |
17.60% |
| 3 |
GERMANY |
84,603,093.01 |
79,230,441.16 |
-6.35% |
| 4 |
UKRAINE |
20,269,622.84 |
63,666,171.87 |
214.10% |
| 5 |
SPAIN |
81,501,244.97 |
60,571,394.35 |
-25.68% |
| 6 |
ROMANIA |
36,393,091.54 |
48,856,375.68 |
34.25% |
| 7 |
UNITED KINGDOM |
49,971,768.97 |
47,833,232.18 |
-4.28% |
| 8 |
ISRAEL |
41,893,617.43 |
44,660,890.16 |
6.61% |
| 9 |
ITALY |
63,733,604.55 |
42,240,473.09 |
-33.72% |
| 10 |
EGYPT |
96,453,263.43 |
40,784,320.69 |
-57.72% |
March 2020 chemical sector exports by subsector
| |
|
|
2019-2020 |
| |
MARCH 2019 |
MARCH 2020 |
% DIFFERENCE |
| PRODUCT GROUP |
VALUE ($) |
VALUE ($) |
VALUE |
| PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF |
537,134,162 |
514,596,563 |
-4.20% |
| MINERAL FUELS, MINERAL OILS AND PRODUCTS |
606,548,737 |
341,688,677 |
-43.67% |
| INORGANIC CHEMICALS |
151,364,075 |
131,939,440 |
-12.83% |
| ESSENTIAL OILS, COSMETICS AND SOAPS |
101,675,277 |
104,341,179 |
2.62% |
| RUBBER AND RUBBER ARTICLES |
110,254,901 |
101,697,712 |
-7.76% |
| PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS |
86,643,499 |
94,638,976 |
9.23% |
| MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS |
58,843,294 |
72,771,630 |
23.67% |
| PAINTS, VARNISHES, INKS AND PREPARATIONS |
70,498,330 |
68,488,430 |
-2.85% |
| WASHING PREPARATIONS |
39,406,326 |
45,227,203 |
14.77% |
| ORGANIC CHEMICALS |
44,172,099 |
39,764,568 |
-9.98% |
| FERTILIZERS |
19,849,396 |
22,446,147 |
13.08% |
| ADHESIVES, GLUES, ENZYMES |
16,080,274 |
17,633,180 |
9.66% |
| PRODUCTS USED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY |
1,551,834 |
962,289 |
-37.99% |
| GUNPOWDER, EXPLOSIVES AND DERIVATIVES |
835,335 |
877,261 |
5.02% |
| GLYCERINE, VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, DEGRAS, FATTY SUBSTANCES |
76,440 |
70,935 |
-7.20% |
| PROCESSED ASBESTOS AND MIXTURES, ARTICLES |
15,456 |
54,309 |
251.38% |
| TOTAL |
1,844,949,436 |
1,557,198,498 |
-15.60% |
