Being at the first place in cement exportation in the world and in production in Europe, Turkey reversed the slowdown seen in some exportation markets and is preparing to dominate these markets all over again. Cement, Glass, Ceramics and Soil Products Exporters' Association (CCSIB) Deputy Chairman Abdulhamit Akcay said they're strong enough to meet domestic demand and export at the same time.
The Turkish cement sector representative who are carrying out their activities with the Turkish Cement brand under the Cement, Glass, Ceramics and Soil Products Exporters' Association (CCSIB), came together in the Cement Sector Workshop organized in Sapanca. The workshop is opened by the CCSIB Deputy Chairman Abdulhamit Akcay and the participants exchanged their views on exportation markets, future opportunities and impediments for the sector and the effect of the developments in homeland on the sector with the earthquake disaster being in the first place.
Akcay noted that macroeconomic and geopolitical developments are advancing in favor of the Turkish cement sector and stated that they will be robustly regaining the advantages that are lost due to the energy costs in western markets with USA coming at the forefront.
Akcay underlined that the main agenda of the cement sector is the domestic market because of the earthquake disaster centered in Kahramanmaras and said “Export is always so strategic for us but our main objective for this year and the upcoming 5 years will be meeting the cement demand required for the rebuilding of our cities in the earthquake area and the transformation of our other cities in earthquake zones. In any case, our export won't be interrupted. Because our sector has a yearly manufacturing capacity of 120 million tones. When we look at the numbers of 2022, we see that the total demand both domestic and outland is 82 million tones. That means we have about 40 million tones manufacturing capacity surplus”.
Abdullah Akcay also remarked that the sector gave an example of great solidarity after the earthquake and said there are 10 factories in the earthquake area affected by the disaster and that manufacturers in other areas have met the demands and manage to deliver the orders.
Akcay also emphasized that the Turkish cement sector is closely following the global developments of climate change and gave information on R&D and production improvement projects and new technology practices actualized by the companies of the sector such as the reduction of carbon emissions focusing on green and digital transformation, renewable energy investments, recovery of waste heat.
