PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz stated that despite 2025 being a year of high interest rates, shrinking demand, and global uncertainties, the wheels of Turkish industry did not stop, saying, “We left a challenging year behind, but we once again proved our resilience; 2026 will be a year of rebalancing, efficiency, and green transformation for our sector.” Karadeniz stated that it is strategically important for Turkey to maintain its production power during this period when global trade is being reshaped.
The Turkish economy went through a challenging period in 2025 due to high interest rates, shrinking demand, a slowdown in global export markets, and fluctuations in energy costs. Ömer Karadeniz, Chairman of the Board of the Plastics Industrialists Federation (PLASFED), stated that the industry showed great resilience during this process, saying, “2025 was not an easy year for our industrialists. Difficulty in accessing financing, cost pressures, and shrinking demand created a significant burden on our businesses. Despite this, we have an industrial structure that does not stop the wheels of production.”
Global balances are being reshaped
Karadeniz pointed out that the global economic structure is undergoing a rapid transformation, stating that we are going through a period where uncertainty in global trade is increasing and growth is slowing down. The President of the umbrella organization PLASFED stated that it is now more important than ever for our structure to be strong and flexible against unexpected shocks.
Karadeniz stated that the decline in the competitiveness of the European economy directly affects Turkish exporters, and said, “China is no longer just a low-cost production region; it is one of the centers of innovation and technological breakthroughs. To correctly understand where the global system is evolving, we need to carefully examine the regions where geo-economic struggles are taking place and the new trade blocs.”
Plastics sector survived despite shrinking demand
Karadeniz stated that the plastics sector struggled in 2025, particularly due to the slowdown in the domestic market and declining orders in export markets, and said, “Although capacity utilization rates in our sector were under pressure in some areas, the Turkish plastics industry managed to maintain production continuity with its strong infrastructure.”
Karadeniz stated that input costs, logistical uncertainties, and fluctuations in raw material prices challenged businesses, but despite this, steps towards recycling, energy efficiency, and digitalization gained more importance across the sector. Karadeniz pointed out that 2025 was a year where both the need for saving and transformation were felt simultaneously.
“Industrialist ready for 2026”
Karadeniz stated that they are entering 2026 with the expectation of a more planned and predictable environment, saying, “Our priority in the new year will be rebalancing and efficiency. Improving financing conditions is critical for investments to pick up again.” Karadeniz emphasized that the biggest problem for businesses throughout 2025 was the burden of financing, and stated that policies are needed in 2026 to allow the real sector to breathe.
Karadeniz pointed to the new standards that the Green Deal will bring, saying, “This process includes both obligations and new opportunities for our sector. With the right support mechanisms, we can increase our competitiveness.”
Karadeniz stated that the sector has maintained its resilience despite all difficulties, saying, “As the plastics sector, we are part of a large ecosystem. We will continue to work together to achieve a more innovative, agile, and sustainable structure in 2026.”
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.