Turkey as a manufacturing country offers a variety of sectors
Most people think of Turkey as a textile paradise but the number one export goods are automobile and car parts as well as chemical goods.
Textile comes very close afterwards. There are a lot of sectors which are not as known as those above. Packaging and machinery take important places as well.
Textile
The Turkish textile industry, the world’s 5th largest textile exporter, reached the highest record of all time with an export value of 12.9 billion dollars with an increase of 33.2 in 2021. The industry has experienced an increase in exports in approximately 85% of the more than 200 countries and regions it exports to.
Fashion
Turkey is mostly known as a hub for fashion manufacture. The country has 59,000 companies in textile, footwear and apparel manufacturing, which yearly produce over 65 billion dollars per of garments and fashion goods. Nearly all Turkish manufacturers are small or medium sized entities.
Chemical Industry
Turkey has been manufacturing chemicals for very long time, being a producer of many basic and intermediate chemicals and petrochemicals. Turkish chemical production includes petrochemicals, inorganic and organic chemicals, fertilizers, paints, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, synthetic fibers, essential oils, cosmetics and personal care products. The majority of chemicals production is done by the private sector.
Metal and Plastic Processing Industry
Plastics industry is one of the youngest and most rapidly growing industries in Turkey. With 6500 operating companies contributes to the Turkish economy. The production of plastics end products, which was 8.3 million tons and 35.2 billion dollars in 2013, has annually increased on average by 3.7% in the last 5 years and it has reached 9.6 million tons in 2017. Turkish plastics industry shares 2.7 % of total world plastics production which makes Turkey the 6th biggest producer in the world and 2nd in Europe.
Packaging
Packaging provides protection to products by ensuring safe delivery from the place of manufacture to the point of sale or use. The Turkish packaging industry is a well-developed sector. In recent years, innovations and the environment friendly production in the sector have increased. In addition, new packaging formats are improved according to the quality, size and appeal of products. Growth in population and living standards, rapid urbanization, diversification of consumer goods, increase in the number of women in labor force and increase in exports – mainly in consumer products, have all resulted in higher demand for packaging products. The Turkish packaging industry has grown rapidly over the past 10 years and has now become a huge sector.
Car Industry
Vehicle industry production in Turkey dates back to the mid-1950s and the industry gained momentum in the early 1960s. After manufacturing some prototype vehicles during the 1950s, the first vehicle assembly company was established in 1954 (Turk Willys Overland Ltd.) for jeep manufacturing. By 1955, trucks, and by 1963, buses were being assembled in Turkey. Then passenger car assembly companies, namely TOFAŞ (FIAT), OYAK (RENAULT) and OTOSAN (FORD) began operations in the next three years. In 1966, the industry also began to assemble its own cars (OTOSAN). The Turkish-made passenger car of those times, “ANADOL”, is nostalgia now.
Machinery
Turkey has geographical proximity to some of the highest-growth markets. In machinery and is conveniently positioned as a managing and manufacturing hub. 63% of machinery revenue is made by small and medium enterprises.
Food Supply
Production of foodstuffs is a big component of Turkey’s economy – nearly 20% of its GDP is covered by the food and drink sector – and is gearing up for further expansion. By 2023, the Turkish government has set the goal of greatly boosting its food output.
Domestically, Turkey’s food industries are strong. Crucially, however, there remains a lot of room for international brands to grab a market share and begin exporting goods there.
