Plastic industry in Turkey is evolving with technological innovations and sustainable practices. Investment opportunities are emerging, and growth prospects are taking shape for companies wishing to develop their activities in Turkey.
Plastic Industry in Turkey
To recall, Turkey, with an area of 783,562 km², is divided into 81 provinces spread across 7 regions and 957 districts. Although Ankara is the official capital, Istanbul remains the economic heart of the country.
In 2023, Turkey posted economic growth of 4.5%, bringing its GDP to $906 billion, a remarkable increase compared to $236 billion in 2002. The GDP of Turkey. Europe remains the primary import and export zone for Turkey, highlighting the importance of its trade relations with the European continent.
Overview of the Plastic Industry in Turkey
The plastic industry in Turkey is a dynamic and expanding sector, playing a crucial role in the country’s economy. In 2023, Turkey positioned itself as the 6th largest plastic producer in the world and the 2nd largest producer in Europe, just behind Germany. With an annual production of 11.2 million tons of plastic, the Turkish plastic market reached a value of $46.9 billion.
This rapid growth of the plastic industry in Turkey, with an average annual rate of 10% over the past ten years, testifies to the capacity for innovation and development of the Turkish industry.
Packaging Industry in Turkey
The packaging sector in Turkey, in particular, has seen strong demand, generating $8 billion in exports in 2023. Packaging such as plastic bags and various packaging-related equipment are among the best plastic products to import from Turkey.
Turkey excels in various types of plastic products, including packaging, profiles, and plastic injections for the automotive industry. The regions of Marmara (including Istanbul, Bursa, and Kocaeli), Ankara, and Izmir are the main economic and industrial areas, contributing significantly to the production and export of plastics.
Trade and Plastic Industry in Turkey
In 2023, the plastic industry in Turkey saw an increase in investments in machinery and equipment, recording a significant rise of 24% compared to the previous year, thus exceeding the threshold of $1 billion in monetary value. If the plastic industry in Turkey is active today, it also reflects past efforts to bring the sector to continuous expansion and modernization. More than 5,000 companies operate in this field, the vast majority being plastic processing companies. The sector also attracts foreign direct investment in Turkey, with 113 foreign-owned companies.
Approximately 350,000 people are employed in nearly 15,000 companies, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Companies still work in somewhat traditional schemes, requiring more structuring. The strong involvement of SMEs in Turkey in generating employment in the plastic industry, coupled with the structuring of the sector, represents an opportunity to support industrial innovation in Turkey.
Companies in the Plastic Sector in Turkey
- Dow: An American chemical company established in Turkey in 1971. Focuses on innovation in the development of plastics and plastic materials (composites Turkey, polymers Turkey).
- SASA Polyester: A leader in the production of polyester and synthetic fibers.
- Plaş: Specializes in the production of innovative plastic solutions in Turkey. Plaş offers a wide range of plastic products for various industries.
- Witforms: Focuses on design and functionality in its everyday plastic products (toys, household utensils, packaging, etc.).
- Polibak: Provides high-quality solutions for plastic packaging in Turkey and other industrial applications.
- SEM: Specializes in technical plastic products. Offers advanced solutions for specific applications in different industries in Turkey.
Plastic Waste Industry in Turkey
The management of plastic waste in Turkey is a crucial issue, characterized by the existence of 2,752 waste disposal and recovery facilities, which annually treat 127,401,232 tons of waste in Turkey. These infrastructures include 9 composting facilities, 50 co-incineration centers, and 2,509 recycling centers. These centers play a vital role in reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Between 2018 and 2022, total imports of plastic waste in Turkey increased by an average of 12% per year in terms of quantity and 26.4% in terms of value, reaching 687.1 thousand tons and $296.9 million in 2022. These efforts allow Turkey to transform plastic waste into valuable resources, promoting the development of new industries and job creation in the recycling sector.
While a large part of plastic waste in Turkey is recycled, the country has been labeled as the “garbage dump of Europe.” Turkey receives about 450,000 tons of waste from the EU per year. These imports represent a real challenge for the country as waste recovery infrastructures in Turkey are still being structured.
Artificial Intelligence and the Plastic Industry in Turkey
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many sectors around the world, and the plastic industry in Turkey is not left behind. With national strategies and sectoral initiatives, Turkey aims to improve its global position in integrating AI to enhance the production and sustainability of the plastic industry.
Turkey’s National AI Strategy
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy of Turkey 2021-2025 sets clear goals to develop and integrate AI in various industrial sectors. The main objectives include strengthening AI skills, increasing research and development capacity, and encouraging public-private partnerships.
Currently, AI projects in the plastic industry in Turkey are still minor and under development. Investing in this sector represents a great opportunity.
How AI Will Improve the Precision and Quality of Plastics?
In general, using AI in the automation process significantly increases the quality and precision of production. For example, AI and algorithms allow for analyzing the flow of molds during the process. The technology also enables seeing how materials move inside the tool, identifying problems such as blockages, turbulence, or gas entrapment.
AI-powered automation tools allow for unprecedented precision in analyzing and monitoring manufacturing processes. From start to finish, machine learning through intelligent technologies like AI and IoT helps find and correct small defects, ensuring our products meet the high standards our industry clients expect.
OMNI Project
This project focuses on sorting post-consumer plastic waste using advanced AI and robotics technologies. Although this project does not focus solely on the plastic industry in Turkey, it uses Recycleye technology in computer vision and machine learning. The project has achieved a sorting rate of 50% for food materials with a purity of over 95%.
This expertise allows for effective decontamination of sorted materials, producing high-quality recycled polypropylene (rPP) suitable for food packaging applications, useful for promoting a sustainable economy in the plastic industry in Turkey. This project opens up new market opportunities for recycled plastic materials and improves recycling economics in Turkey.
Do you have a project in the plastic industry in Turkey? Contact us now to find out how we can help you succeed!
A Brief on Industry 4.0 in Turkey
The integration of AI in the plastic industry in Turkey presents significant advantages, both economically and environmentally. Ongoing projects show how technological innovation can transform recycling and production practices, contributing to a more sustainable circular economy.
It is in the field of robotic automation systems that the Turkish Industry 4.0 specializes.
Companies such as Otorobtek and Teknorob offer innovations in Industry 4.0 in Turkey without being specialized in plastics.
The integration of AI in the plastic industry in Turkey presents significant advantages, both economically and environmentally. To date, Industry 4.0 in Turkey is still being structured but follows the global trend of greater integration of AI and technologies.
In conclusion, the Turkish plastic industry continues to grow and diversify, strengthening its position in the global market in the future. With continuous technological innovations and sustainable practices, Turkey is well-placed to maintain its growth momentum and offer attractive investment opportunities.
Sources: HPP, Le Monde, OECD, PAGEV.
