Mediterranean Chemicals Exports Rose 31% in November

Mediterranean Chemical Exporters Association Chairman Uğur Ateş: Mediterranean Chemical Products Exports Rose 31 Percent in November

According to November 2017 export figures from the Mediterranean Exporters Associations General Secretariat, the chemical products and manufactures sector once again ranked first with USD 259 million in exports. According to sectoral export figures for November, Turkey's chemical products and manufactures exports increased 20 percent compared to the same period in 2016, reaching USD 1.3 billion. Mediterranean chemical products and manufactures exports recorded a 31 percent increase in November compared to the same period of the previous year, accounting for 25 percent of total Mediterranean Exporters Associations exports and 19 percent of Turkey's chemical products and manufactures exports.

Egypt, Netherlands, and United Arab Emirates lead AKMİB exports

The most exported product group by the Mediterranean Chemical Products and Manufactures Exporters Association during this period, as always, was Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products, followed by Plastics and Manufactures and Inorganic Chemicals. During this period, the countries to which the Mediterranean Chemical Products and Manufactures Exporters Association exported the most were Egypt, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Northern Cyprus, Malta, Iraq, Germany, Denmark and Syria. Commenting on November export figures, AKMİB Board Chairman A. Uğur Ateş noted that while Turkey's overall export growth in November reached 14 percent, the Turkish chemical sector exceeded this figure with 20.5 percent growth, stating, "The Mediterranean Chemical Products and Manufactures Exporters Association (AKMİB), which maintains the same share of 19 percent in Turkey's overall sectoral exports as in the previous month, achieved USD 198 million in exports in November 2016, and closed the same period of 2017 with a significant 31 percent increase at USD 259 million in exports." Noting that Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products, which account for 70 percent of AKMİB exports, showed a 31 percent export increase in November compared to the same period of the previous year, Ateş said, "We see the impact of increased exports to Egypt and Netherlands in this increase. There is also growth in the 8 leading product group subsectors in the top ranks including this product group. For example, Plastics and Manufactures showed 17 percent growth, Inorganic Chemicals 38 percent, Paints, Varnishes, Inks and Preparations 28 percent, Organic Chemicals 194 percent and Fertilizers 64 percent growth." Ateş noted that Germany, Iraq and Syria markets were influential in plastic and manufactures export growth, while in the Inorganic Chemicals subsector, increases in Egypt, France and India markets stood out, saying, "In AKMİB exports during November 2017, we see upward trends in leading markets except for the UAE. We achieved increases of 88 percent in Egypt, 311 percent in Netherlands, 13 percent in Saudi Arabia, 49 percent in Northern Cyprus and 36 percent in Malta, which rank among the top destinations."