At the 10th Stars of Export Awards Ceremony organized this year by İKMİB, companies that achieved success in foreign markets in 2024 were honored with awards. With exports reaching USD 30.8 billion, the chemical industry has once again proven to be a driving force of Türkiye’s economy.
The strength of Türkiye’s chemical exports was once again reflected in figures and success stories throughout 2024. Organized annually by the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters’ Association (İKMİB), the Stars of Export Awards Ceremony was held in Istanbul on May 23, 2025. The 10th edition of the event this year saw a total of 180 awards presented across 36 categories.
According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) data, the chemical industry recorded USD 30.8 billion in exports in 2024, securing its position as Türkiye’s second-largest exporting sector. The industry, encompassing 16 sub-sectors, exports to 231 countries and regions and accounts for approximately 13.6% of the nation’s total exports.
The ceremony was hosted by Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Board of İKMİB, and Özgür Volkan Ağar, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, and representatives of the awarded companies also in atten- dance.
The top three companies in each category received commemorative plaques, while 180 companies in total were honored for their achievements.
“The chemical industry is helping Türkiye move up the global value chain”
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar emphasized that the chemical industry holds a strategic position, not only due to its share of exports but also because of its deep structural ties with other sectors.
“More than 80% of chemicals produced globally are used as intermediates or raw materials in other industries. The chemical sector indirectly contributes approximately USD 5.7 trillion to the global economy and provides employment to 120 million people,” said Ağar, adding that Türkiye must aim to climb even higher in the global chemical league.
Ağar also highlighted that plastics and rubber-based products remain the industry’s leading sub-sector with nearly USD 10 billion in export value. He also underscored the importance of healthcare-related products, stating: “We believe that with our strong domestic production capacity, we will achieve new mi-lestones in pharmaceutical and medical device exports.”
“Our 2030 target: USD 50 billion”
In his opening remarks, İKMİB Chairman of the Board Adil Pelister underlined the goal of building on the industry’s recent achievements. “We take great pride in recognizing our members who contribute to our export success at this 10th anniversary edition of our awards. We started 2025 strong, with USD 10.3 billion in exports during the first four months. We are continuing to work towards our 2025 target of USD 35 billion, and for 2030, we aim to exceed USD 50 billion,” he said. Pelister also emphasized that İKMİB is not only advancing exports but also preparing the sector for the future through infrastructure investments and industry transformation.
A new ecosystem with the Chemical Technology Center
Another key highlight of Pelister’s speech was the Chemical Technology Center investment. The center, developed with a budget of TRY 165 million, is capable of conducting 209 different tests. Of these, 100 are planned to receive international accreditation. “This center will not only serve as a hub for testing and analysis but will also foster innovation by supporting start-ups, offering incubation services, and providing guidance for domestic technologies. With our vision of building a Chemical Science City, we aim to take this initiative even further,” said Pelister, pointing to visionary projects that will shape the future of the industry.
