The domestic production of basic plastic raw materials has naturally resulted in a strong plastic processing industry.

Turkey manufactures all kinds of plastic products, ranging from the traditional to the most recently developed plasticproducts, such as plastic construction and irrigation products, plastic autoparts, plastic table and kitchenware, allplastic parts of electronic, electrical and household items and all kinds of plastic packing products.

Petkim- Petrokimya Holding A.S., which is a public owned company, is the major plastic raw material manufacturer.

In Turkey, 1.52 million tons of thermoplastics were consumed in 1999 and there has been an average 11% yearly increase in consumption in the last ten years. The consumption of thermoplastics is estimated to increase to 2.5 million tons in 2005.

The Turkish plastic processing industry owes its capability to its comparatively recent foundation. Recent developments and designs are applied in this young sector where the latest high technology from all over the world is brought. At present, in Turkey there are about 4000 plastic processing companies which are mainly small and medium scale and also about 67 companies with foreign investment.

Parellel to these developments in the plastic processing industry, the plastic processing machinery sector, a young but a strong sector, has been emerging in Turkey.

The main product groups in the Turkish plastic processing machinery are: injection-moulding machines, extruders and other moulding and forming machines. The majority of plastic processing machinery manufacturers are located in Istanbul and Izmir. Major sectors using plastic processing machines in Turkey are packaging, electro-electronics, household articles, construction materials and automotive parts industries.

Though the export figures of the plastic processing machinery are not remarkable at present, exports have an upward trend. Exports reached $ 12.1 million, with 37.5% growth in 2000. The main plastic processing machines exported are injection-moulding machines, extruders and other moulding and forming machines.

Turkish plastic processing machinery is exported to a wide range of countries in the world. Turkey is now exporting various plastic processing machinery to 73 countries throughout the world. The major markets for plastic processing machinery were Germany, Russia, Algeria, Spain and the United Kingdom in 2000. The leading export markets for injection-moulding machines were Germany, Algeria and Iran in 2000. In the same year, extruders exported to Esthonia, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Turkish plastic processing machinery is exhibited in international fairs and local fairs organised in Turkey. In 2002, two fairs, which are listed below, will be organised in the sector.