The global economy is going through a period of deepening uncertainty, marked by a fragile post-pandemic recovery, issues with energy supply security, and geopolitical tensions. This landscape weakens the appetite for industrial investment, while limited access to finance and high costs put pressure on production capacity. In particular, fluctuations in energy prices and disruptions in supply chains make production planning even more difficult. Despite all these challenges, Turkish industry maintains its production power while also harboring opportunities within the global transformation. The green transition, carbon regulations, and near-shoring trends offer strategic advantages for Turkey. However, financing costs, energy dependency, and structural vulnerabilities stand out as the most significant obstacles before the industry. For this reason, predictable, strong, and sustainable policies are of critical importance.
The global economy has long been shaped by successive waves of crises. The fragile post-pandemic recovery process, problems in energy supply security, regional wars, and geopolitical risks at critical transit points such as the Strait of Hormuz are weakening the fundamental pillars of the production economy. We are no longer talking only about economic cycles, but about a global trade structure directly influenced by political tensions.
Today, the biggest cost item for the industrialist is not just energy or raw materials; it is the uncertainty created by unpredictable risks. This uncertainty delays investment decisions, complicates production plans, and makes working capital more expensive. In particular, sudden spikes in energy prices directly affect all production lines based on petrochemical-derived raw materials. Tensions in the Middle East and risks along the Hormuz line increase volatility in energy markets, which in turn ripples through to logistics costs and subsequently to final product prices. Industry is no longer just producing; it is also trying to manage a constantly changing risk map.
Investment appetite is weakening
Despite all these challenges, Turkish industry possesses a structure that has managed to maintain its production power. However, the tightening in access to finance, the high-interest-rate environment, and the increase in working capital costs create serious pressure, especially for SMEs. From the perspective of the real sector, the widening gap between production and financial returns weakens the appetite for investment. This turns into a factor that limits the growth of production capacity in the medium and long term. I would like to underline that the most critical need of Turkish industry is not short-term solutions, but a predictable and stable economic ground. Industry works with planning; uncertainty is the greatest enemy of this planning.
In this period where global trade is being reshaped, there are also significant areas of opportunity for Turkey. Europe's tendency to move supply chains to near geographies, green transition policies, and carbon regulations can make Turkey a strategic production hub. However, to utilize these opportunities, the investment environment needs to be strengthened, energy costs need to be brought to competitive levels, and access to finance needs to be facilitated.
Today, the industrialist is fighting not only against production costs but also against the hardening conditions of global competition. Therefore, it is critically important to implement policies that support the production economy without delay. Because a loss in production means not only an economic loss but also a loss in employment and exports.
Single-use plastic restrictions are not the solution
The growing trend of regulations and restrictions on single-use plastics is another important agenda item for the sector. This approach, shaped by environmental concerns, creates uncertainty in the production chain if not managed correctly and complicates the industrialist's medium-term plans. However, the real need here is not a restrictive framework, but the establishment of a strong Source Separation System and an effective circular economy infrastructure. Increasing recycling capacity, expanding the Deposit Return System, and ensuring standardization in waste management will make it possible to both achieve environmental goals and protect the security of raw material supply. Otherwise, I would like to state that rapid and unplanned restrictions on single-use products will create serious cost and compliance pressure on the production ecosystem, especially for SMEs.
General outlook and structural problems
The problems that the industry is facing today are, of course, not only economic; they must also be said to be structural. Energy dependency, fragility in raw material supply chains, difficulties in accessing finance, and geopolitical risks on global trade routes create a multi-layered pressure field that must be managed simultaneously.
Industry now competes not only with its production power but also with its resilience to crises. Therefore, as much as protecting production capacity, ensuring the sustainability of this capacity emerges as a strategic necessity.
The industrialist's expectation is clear: a more predictable economy, lower financing costs, and a stronger production infrastructure. Otherwise, global competitive conditions may rapidly shift production centers to other geographies. At this point, one must see this truth clearly: Industry forms the foundation not only of economic growth but also of economic independence. Therefore, strengthening the industry also means strengthening the country's future.
The plastics industry is a strategic part of global transformation
The plastics industry stands out as a strategic production area that sustains the supply chains of many sectors in Turkey. Its wide range of applications—from packaging to automotive, and from health to construction—strengthens the sector's critical role within the economic system. However, due to its petrochemical dependency, this sector is one of the areas most quickly affected by fluctuations in energy and raw material prices. Recent global tensions have increased cost pressure in the plastics sector, bringing price adjustments onto the agenda, especially in packaging and consumer products. Despite this, the sector continues to maintain production continuity thanks to its export capability and flexible production structure.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.