At the “Transformation in Industry: Supply Processes, Sustainability, and Strategic Roadmap” event organized in Bursa in cooperation with PLASFED and BTSO, SOCAR Türkiye Corporate Director of Sustainability & HSE Mehmet Özenbaş delivered a presentation. In his presentation, Özenbaş drew attention to the transformation in the global petrochemical sector, changes in supply chains, and the impacts of new sustainability-focused regulations on the industry.
SOCAR Türkiye Corporate Director of Sustainability & HSE Mehmet Özenbaş delivered a comprehensive presentation at the “Transformation in Industry: Supply Processes, Sustainability, and Strategic Roadmap” program held in Bursa in cooperation with PLASFED and BTSO. At the highly attended meeting, Özenbaş evaluated current developments in the petrochemical sector, the transformation in raw material supply chains, and the impacts of increasing global uncertainty on the industry. The presentation also addressed the disruptions in the global supply chain, raw material supply security, and the structural changes facing the industry from a multi-dimensional perspective.
In the program carried out in cooperation with PLASFED and the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO), it was emphasized that the transformation process in industry is not limited to production technologies alone but must also be addressed together with supply chains, energy markets, environmental regulations, and financial sustainability dimensions. Participants listened to comprehensive evaluations regarding the strategic role of the petrochemical sector in the global economic system and Turkey's position within this structure.
Speaking during his presentation, Mehmet Özenbaş stated that the fluctuations experienced in energy and petrochemical markets on a global scale in recent years have directly affected the supply-demand balance, noting, “The global petrochemical sector is under simultaneous pressure across six dimensions; these pressures are interconnected and are reshaping the structure of the sector.” Özenbaş expressed that, in particular, changes in global trade conditions and the transformation in the sector's supply-demand balance have made the search for a new equilibrium in the petrochemical sector inevitable.
Global competition dynamics are changing
Pointing out that elements such as the decline in global capacity utilization rates, production contractions in Europe, and capacity growth from Asia have changed the competitive dynamics in the sector, Özenbaş said, “Today, the petrochemical sector is evaluated not only by production volume but also by efficiency, sustainability, and carbon compliance.” Stating that long-term investment decisions in the sector now have a more complex structure, Özenbaş emphasized that the environment of uncertainty directly affects capital investments as well.
Turkey's strategic position and the role of SOCAR Türkiye
A special heading was devoted to Turkey's position in the petrochemical sector in the presentation. While it was stated that Turkey has become a regional production and supply hub thanks to its strong industrial infrastructure and strategic geographical location, the role of SOCAR Türkiye within this structure was highlighted. It was noted that the integrated production model and refinery-petrochemical integration in Turkey offer a critical advantage in terms of raw material supply security.
In this context, it was stated that the integrated investments made by SOCAR Türkiye in Turkey hold strategic importance not only in terms of production capacity but also in terms of supply continuity and the stability of raw materials provided to the industry. Özenbaş stated that SOCAR Türkiye is Turkey’s largest foreign investor and largest integrated industrial group with an investment volume of approximately 19.5 billion dollars, and that this structure makes a significant contribution to the country's industry.
Carbon regulations and green transformation
Sustainability and environmental regulations were also addressed as an important agenda item in the program. It was stated that the steps taken by the European Union within the scope of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are expected to expand to cover broader sectors in the post-2026 period. It was emphasized that this development has made carbon compliance an mandatory competitive criterion for export-oriented sectors.
Özenbaş stated that carbon regulations and emission trading systems are no longer just an environmental policy tool but have become an economic cost element, adding, “Carbon intensity, water usage performance, and circularity indicators have now become measurable parameters in investor capital costs and customer-supplier selection criteria.” Pointing out that Turkey is also in the process of adapting to this transformation with its climate policies and emission trading system preparations, Özenbaş provided information on recycling technologies, circular economy practices, and sustainable production models. Stating that the use of recycled raw materials in the plastic and petrochemical sector will increase and that this is an inevitable transformation in terms of both regulations and consumer preferences, Özenbaş said, “The European Union's regulations regarding packaging waste and plastic recycling, in particular, will directly affect the production structure of the sector.”
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.