Foreign trade surplus of 1.1 billion dollars from the packaging sector in the first 6 months of 2024

Foreign trade surplus of 1.1 billion dollars from the packaging sector in the first 6 months of 2024

Packaging sector in Türkiye exported 3 billion 322 million dollars in the first 6 months of 2024. While the volume of exports increased by 7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, the sector had a foreign trade surplus of 1 billion 152 million dollars. The first three spots in the ranking of the countries to which the sector exported the most were the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA. Evaluating the foreign trade data of the Turkish packaging industry, Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir, President of Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), said: 'We can say that the current economic trend in Türkiye, increasing costs and the shrinkage in export markets stand out in the case of exports. However, we aim for a better performance as a sector in the second half of 2024.'

The export data of the packaging industry for the first 6 months of 2024 were announced. While packaging exports in the first 6 months of 2023 was 1 million 436 thousand 936 tonnes, it was 1 million 534 thousand 845 tonnes in the first 6 months of 2024. Exports, which were 3 billion 455 million dollars in value in the first half of 2023, decreased to 3 billion 322 million 712 thousand dollars in the same period of 2024. Exports of the packaging sector in the first 6 months of 2024 increased by 7 percent in quantity and decreased by 4 percent in value compared to the same period of the previous year.

With regard to exports by packaging type, plastic packaging exports, which were 2 billion 140 million dollars in the first 6 months of 2023, increased to 2 billion 142 million dollars, while paper/cardboard packaging exports decreased from 790 million dollars to 764 million dollars in the said periods. While 322 million dollars of metal packaging exports were performed in the January-June period of 2023, 285 million dollars of metal packaging exports were realised in the same period of 2024. For glass packaging exports, the volume decreased from 177 million dollars to 112 million dollars.

IMPORTS DECREASED BY 6 PERCENT

While packaging imports in the first 6 months of 2023 was 1 million 34 thousand 351 tonnes, it was 1 million 25 thousand 137 tonnes in the first 6 months of 2024. In terms of value, the figures were calculated as 2 billion 307 million 180 thousand dollars and 2 billion 170 million 551 thousand dollars, respectively. Total imports in the packaging sector decreased by 1 percent in quantity and 6 percent in value compared to the previous year. In the first 6 months of 2024, when exports and imports were compared on the basis of main materials, the packaging sector had a foreign trade surplus of 1 billion 152 million dollars.

SHRINKAGE IN EXPORT MARKETS

Evaluating the foreign trade data of the Turkish packaging industry, Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir, President of Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), said: 'Türkiye has a say in the world with its high value-added, quality products. However, when we look at the data for the first 6 months of 2024, we see an increase in quantity and a slight decline in value. We can say that one of the biggest reasons for the decline in value is the war and conflict environment in geographies close to our country. Besides, the economic crisis in the world also affects this decline in our sector. It can be stated that the current economic situation in Türkiye, increasing costs and the shrinking export markets stand out in the case of exports. However, we aim for a better performance as a sector in the second half of 2024.'

Countries with the highest packaging exports in the first 6 months of 2024