Chemical Sector Extends Growth, Boosts Exports by 8% in October

According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Turkey's exports reached USD 24 billion in October 2025 with a 2.2% increase. The chemical sector achieved exports of USD 2.6 billion in October, recording an 8.16% increase and continuing its role as one of Turkey's export engine sectors. The sector's total exports for the first ten months of 2025 approached USD 27 billion.

Pelister: "We are growing our exports through innovation and quality"
Evaluating October's chemical export figures, Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), drew attention to the sector's steady growth.

Pelister stated in his statement:
"Our chemical sector continued its growth with an export performance of USD 2.6 billion in October. Our sector's exports increased by 8% compared to the same month last year. Our ten-month exports this year have approached USD 27 billion. With our innovation and quality-focused production approach, we continue to strengthen our position in existing markets and are working with all our efforts to create new export opportunities. As İKMİB, we will continue to support our sector and exporters through purchasing missions, trade delegations and fair national participation organizations that we organize. We thank all our companies that successfully represent our sector on the international stage for their dedication and contributions."

Highest exports in "plastics and plastic products" category
In October, "plastics and plastic products" ranked first among chemical substances and products groups with exports of USD 854,446 thousand. Mineral fuels and products ranked second with USD 502,519 thousand in exports, while inorganic chemicals ranked third with USD 258,639 thousand.

These groups were followed respectively by essential oils, cosmetics and soaps, rubber and rubber articles, pharmaceutical products, paints, varnishes, inks and preparations, miscellaneous chemical substances, washing preparations and organic chemicals.

Romania leads, Ukraine stands out
In October, Romania was the country with the highest chemical exports at USD 151.5 million. Romania was followed respectively by the Netherlands, United States, Germany, Russia, Italy, Iraq, Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The highest increase rate among the top 20 countries was recorded in Ukraine with 103.8%.

Chemical sector maintained strong performance throughout the year
Throughout 2025, the chemical sector demonstrated strong export momentum despite volatile global economic conditions. While July saw a record increase of 32.9%, marking the sector's highest monthly performance of the year, the 8.16% increase in October showed that the sector continued its growth in the second half.

Notable increases in sub-sectors
In October, growth rates in some sub-product groups were as follows:

Inorganic chemicals: 21.4%

Adhesives, glues, enzymes: 20.7%

Rubber and rubber articles: 16.8%

Pharmaceutical products: 14.2%

Mineral fuels and products: 13.7%

Chemical sector's export success will continue
İKMİB aims to enable the Turkish chemical sector to play a more effective role in global markets through trade delegations, fair participation and purchasing missions it organizes. The chemical sector, one of Turkey's largest exporting sectors, aims to close 2025 with record-level exports.