Stats: Türkiye’s polymer imports hit a new all-time high in 2025 despite financial strains
by Merve Madakbaşı - mmadakbasi@chemorbis.com
Türkiye’s total polymer imports reached a new record in 2025. The country imported approximately 6.3 million tons over the year, data from ChemOrbis Stats Wizard showed, surpassing the previous record of 6.2 million tons set in 2023. The volume marked a 5% increase from 2024. The fresh peak in imports coincided with an improving macroeconomic backdrop, particularly through mid-2025, when GDP growth accelerated to 4.8% year-on-year in Q2 after a softer 2% rise in Q1, before easing to 3.7% in Q3.
Nonetheless, multi-year low polymer prices led to a 1.5% decline in the value of imports compared to 2024, bringing the total to $6.9 billion.
The top three polymer suppliers remained Saudi Arabia, the USA, and South Korea, with respective market shares of 23%, 15,% and 12%, followed by Egypt (5%) and Russia (4%). Saudi Arabia’s share was unchanged from 2024, while the USA and South Korea achieved gains of 4% and 3%, respectively.
For detailed figures on tonnage and more, visit ChemOrbis Stats Wizard.
PPH imports up, copolymer volumes ease on year
During 2025, Türkiye’s combined PP imports were largely unchanged from 2024, while the import value fell by 6% to $2.8 billion amid lower prices.
By product, PPH imports edged up by nearly 1.5% to their highest level since 2023 but remained below the 2 million tons threshold. The import value declined by 5.5% to $2.1 billion.
Saudi Arabia was the top PP supplier in 2025, lifting its share from 37% to 41% year on year. It was followed by South Korea, whose share rose by 5% to 16%. Egypt ranked third, despite its share slipping from 12% to 9%. As a side note, Russia’s share of the total market fell from 15% to 9%, pushing the country down to fourth place in 2025 from second in 2024.
PP copolymer imports were down by 4% on the year, while the value decreased by 7% to around $670 million.
Saudi Arabia (25%), South Korea (22%,) and Belgium (13%) were the top three copolymer suppliers in 2025. The ranking was unchanged from the previous year, while these nations achieved yearly gains of 2%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates strengthened its presence, lifting its market share from 8% to 10% and moving up to fourth place from fifth in 2024.
Cumulative PVC imports hit 1 million tons in 2025
Türkiye’s PVC imports indicated an all-time high of 1 million tons during 2025, up by 23% from the previous year. The value of imports climbed by 15% to $800 million.
The US was the largest PVC supplier, raising its share by 7% to 30%, yearly. It was followed by South Korea, whose share was up by 4% to 10% compared to 2024. France ranked the third largest supplier, despite its share falling by 3% to 8%.
Iran loses significant share in LDPE, remains resilient in HDPE and LLDPE
The overall LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE imports in 2025 rose by 3% year over year, while their value barely changed at $2.5 billion. Despite last year’s US sanctions on certain companies and the geopolitical tensions with Israel, Iran managed to remain among Türkiye’s key suppliers in HDPE and LLDPE grades.
For LDPE alone, import volumes were down by 2% while the value edged down by 1% to $512 million. Saudi Arabia and Spain remained the top two suppliers, with shares of 13% and 11%, respectively, each down by 1% from 2024. The US overtook Iran to become the third-largest LDPE supplier, lifting its share by 1% to 10%. Iran’s share plunged by 8% to 4%, pushing the country down to tenth place in 2025.
LLDPE imports inched up on the year to slightly breach 750,000 tons for the first time since ChemOrbis started to compile data in 2002. The value of imports for the product was at $789 million, down by 5% from 2024 to the lowest level since 2020, however. The USA remained the top supplier, raising its share by 3% to 38% year on year, while Saudi Arabia followed with a 5% lower share at 33%. Iran ranked third, seeing its share rise by 2% to 9%.
For HDPE, Türkiye’s 2025 imports rose by 6% year over year, while the value rose by 3% to around $1 billion. Saudi Arabia remained the largest import supplier, maintaining its share at 24%. The US overtook Iran to become the second-largest source, lifting its share by 8% to 20%. Iran followed, with its share falling from 19% to 14% year on year.
Imports of styrenics slide, PS hits the lowest level on record
Last year, cumulative PS imports were down by 9% from 2024 to hit their all-time low volume-wise, with the value also decreasing by 12% to a 5-year low of $165 million. Belgium, South Korea, and Iran remained the largest suppliers, with Belgium raising its share from 22% to 35%. South Korea achieved a 1% gain on the year, while Iran faced a plunge of 10% in market share.
EPS posted a sharper drop of 34% from the previous year, with overall 2025 volume dipping to a 3-year low. The trade value also plunged by 39% to about $30 million. Russia (26%), Austria (20%), and China (17%) were Türkiye’s main import sources in 2025, while Iran fell from second to fifth place after a 19% drop in its market share.
For ABS, imports declined by 5%, yearly, to below 150,000 tons in 2025, which also pointed to the lowest level since 2022. The value decreased by 9% on the year to a 5-year low of $259 million. South Korea was still by far Türkiye’s biggest ABS supplier, raising its share by 4% to 60%, followed by Saudi Arabia (13%) and Taiwan (10%).
PET bottle and textile imports reach multi-year highs
Türkiye’s PET bottle imports spiked by 60% in 2025 from the previous year, hitting their highest level since the record set in 2013. The value of imports surged by 46% from 2024 to slightly above $170 million. China achieved a 2% gain in its share at 79%, maintaining its position as the number one import source. It was followed by Egypt (10%) and Malaysia (3%).
As for PET textile, 2025 imports increased by 13% year over year to nearly 100,000 tons. The total amount also pointed to the highest figure since the 2022 all-time high. Value-wise, imports totaled at $96 million, down 3.5% from 2024, meanwhile. China remained the biggest import source, despite its share falling notably from 47% to 33%. Malaysia ranked the second largest source, raising its share by 7% to 30% on the year. They were followed by India, which advanced a 1% gain in its share.
Nonetheless, multi-year low polymer prices led to a 1.5% decline in the value of imports compared to 2024, bringing the total to $6.9 billion.
The top three polymer suppliers remained Saudi Arabia, the USA, and South Korea, with respective market shares of 23%, 15,% and 12%, followed by Egypt (5%) and Russia (4%). Saudi Arabia’s share was unchanged from 2024, while the USA and South Korea achieved gains of 4% and 3%, respectively.
For detailed figures on tonnage and more, visit ChemOrbis Stats Wizard.
PPH imports up, copolymer volumes ease on year
During 2025, Türkiye’s combined PP imports were largely unchanged from 2024, while the import value fell by 6% to $2.8 billion amid lower prices.
By product, PPH imports edged up by nearly 1.5% to their highest level since 2023 but remained below the 2 million tons threshold. The import value declined by 5.5% to $2.1 billion.
Saudi Arabia was the top PP supplier in 2025, lifting its share from 37% to 41% year on year. It was followed by South Korea, whose share rose by 5% to 16%. Egypt ranked third, despite its share slipping from 12% to 9%. As a side note, Russia’s share of the total market fell from 15% to 9%, pushing the country down to fourth place in 2025 from second in 2024.
PP copolymer imports were down by 4% on the year, while the value decreased by 7% to around $670 million.
Saudi Arabia (25%), South Korea (22%,) and Belgium (13%) were the top three copolymer suppliers in 2025. The ranking was unchanged from the previous year, while these nations achieved yearly gains of 2%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates strengthened its presence, lifting its market share from 8% to 10% and moving up to fourth place from fifth in 2024.
Cumulative PVC imports hit 1 million tons in 2025
Türkiye’s PVC imports indicated an all-time high of 1 million tons during 2025, up by 23% from the previous year. The value of imports climbed by 15% to $800 million.
The US was the largest PVC supplier, raising its share by 7% to 30%, yearly. It was followed by South Korea, whose share was up by 4% to 10% compared to 2024. France ranked the third largest supplier, despite its share falling by 3% to 8%.
Iran loses significant share in LDPE, remains resilient in HDPE and LLDPE
The overall LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE imports in 2025 rose by 3% year over year, while their value barely changed at $2.5 billion. Despite last year’s US sanctions on certain companies and the geopolitical tensions with Israel, Iran managed to remain among Türkiye’s key suppliers in HDPE and LLDPE grades.
For LDPE alone, import volumes were down by 2% while the value edged down by 1% to $512 million. Saudi Arabia and Spain remained the top two suppliers, with shares of 13% and 11%, respectively, each down by 1% from 2024. The US overtook Iran to become the third-largest LDPE supplier, lifting its share by 1% to 10%. Iran’s share plunged by 8% to 4%, pushing the country down to tenth place in 2025.
LLDPE imports inched up on the year to slightly breach 750,000 tons for the first time since ChemOrbis started to compile data in 2002. The value of imports for the product was at $789 million, down by 5% from 2024 to the lowest level since 2020, however. The USA remained the top supplier, raising its share by 3% to 38% year on year, while Saudi Arabia followed with a 5% lower share at 33%. Iran ranked third, seeing its share rise by 2% to 9%.
For HDPE, Türkiye’s 2025 imports rose by 6% year over year, while the value rose by 3% to around $1 billion. Saudi Arabia remained the largest import supplier, maintaining its share at 24%. The US overtook Iran to become the second-largest source, lifting its share by 8% to 20%. Iran followed, with its share falling from 19% to 14% year on year.
Imports of styrenics slide, PS hits the lowest level on record
Last year, cumulative PS imports were down by 9% from 2024 to hit their all-time low volume-wise, with the value also decreasing by 12% to a 5-year low of $165 million. Belgium, South Korea, and Iran remained the largest suppliers, with Belgium raising its share from 22% to 35%. South Korea achieved a 1% gain on the year, while Iran faced a plunge of 10% in market share.
EPS posted a sharper drop of 34% from the previous year, with overall 2025 volume dipping to a 3-year low. The trade value also plunged by 39% to about $30 million. Russia (26%), Austria (20%), and China (17%) were Türkiye’s main import sources in 2025, while Iran fell from second to fifth place after a 19% drop in its market share.
For ABS, imports declined by 5%, yearly, to below 150,000 tons in 2025, which also pointed to the lowest level since 2022. The value decreased by 9% on the year to a 5-year low of $259 million. South Korea was still by far Türkiye’s biggest ABS supplier, raising its share by 4% to 60%, followed by Saudi Arabia (13%) and Taiwan (10%).
PET bottle and textile imports reach multi-year highs
Türkiye’s PET bottle imports spiked by 60% in 2025 from the previous year, hitting their highest level since the record set in 2013. The value of imports surged by 46% from 2024 to slightly above $170 million. China achieved a 2% gain in its share at 79%, maintaining its position as the number one import source. It was followed by Egypt (10%) and Malaysia (3%).
As for PET textile, 2025 imports increased by 13% year over year to nearly 100,000 tons. The total amount also pointed to the highest figure since the 2022 all-time high. Value-wise, imports totaled at $96 million, down 3.5% from 2024, meanwhile. China remained the biggest import source, despite its share falling notably from 47% to 33%. Malaysia ranked the second largest source, raising its share by 7% to 30% on the year. They were followed by India, which advanced a 1% gain in its share.
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