Selçuk GÜLSÜN
Plastic Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (PLASİAD)
Vice Chairman of the Board
The year 2025, which we are preparing to leave behind, was a period shaped by high interest rates, geopolitical risks, and energy costs in the global economy; uncertainties directly affected production and trade decisions. Despite this challenging picture, Turkish industry once again demonstrated its resilient structure by maintaining its production capabilities. The plastics industry, in particular, exhibited a remarkable performance in adapting to changing conditions and orienting towards value-added production.
In the first nine months of 2025, the global economy's growth pace remained weak. The continuation of tight monetary policies by the US and European central banks limited investment and consumption appetite. Geopolitical tensions created pressure on energy supply and trade routes.
However, despite all these difficulties, there was a period where green transformation and digitalization-focused investments accelerated in industrial production. Particularly, new production clusters centered in Asia and the Middle East created significant shifts in global value chains.
A balanced normalization process has begun
The Turkish economy, on the other hand, went through a challenging balancing process in 2025. The high interest rate environment and tight monetary policy limited domestic demand while maintaining the priority of combating inflation. For exporters, the biggest challenges were the demand contraction in Europe and rising financing costs.
Despite this, industrial production showed signs of recovery in the second half of the year. Public investments, green transformation projects, and production increases stemming from the defense industry partially offset the economic slowdown.
Looking at macroeconomic indicators; it seems possible to close 2025 with a growth of approximately 3 percent. In 2026, both financial stability is expected to strengthen, and industrial production is anticipated to gain momentum.
Plastics sector at the heart of transformation
The plastics sector was one of the least affected sectors by the global contraction in 2025. The main reason for this is the sector's flexible production structure and its ability to rapidly integrate into different industrial branches.
The plastics industry, which supplies intermediate goods to many sectors such as packaging, automotive, healthcare, and construction, remained resilient against fluctuations thanks to its production diversity. Furthermore, increasing investments in recycling technologies strengthened the sector's sustainability performance.
Decreases in energy costs, efficiency-oriented production investments, and new openings in export markets are among the promising developments for 2026. However, the sector's most important agenda will be compliance with the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This process initiates a new period of transformation in terms of both cost and technology.
2026 expectations: New balance, new opportunities
2026 could be a year where restructuring accelerates for Turkish industry. A gradual easing of financial conditions will support production and investment, renewable energy and digital production investments will gain momentum, and diversification strategies in export markets will come to the forefront.
Specifically for the plastics sector, the use of recyclable materials, energy efficiency investments, and integration into the green supply chain will constitute the main themes of 2026. During this period, companies that adopt environmentally focused production standards early will maintain a competitive advantage.
The key to the new era is “embracing transformation”
2025 was a year full of challenges; however, it also showed that Turkish industrialists can rapidly adapt to changing conditions. In 2026, this resilience should be replaced by strategic transformation. The strengthening of stability in the economic outlook, accelerated technological renewal, and green transformation investments can elevate Turkey to a stronger position in global value chains.
The plastics sector is at the very center of this transformation. With correct policies, smart investments, and a vision for sustainability, Turkish industry is preparing not just for a new year, but for a new era. 2026 could be the year when production strengthens again; when transformation turns into a true development story.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.