How Much Plastic Is Produced Worldwide and in Türkiye?
Where does Türkiye's plastics sector stand in Europe? A general overview of the sector's size through production, consumption and foreign trade figures.
Türkiye's place in the sector
According to data shared by PAGEV (Turkish Plastics Industry Foundation for Research, Development and Education), Türkiye rose to second place in Europe and sixth place in the world in 2024, with plastic production exceeding 10 million tons. This shows that Türkiye is an important production hub in its region.
Global scale
Plastic has been a material family whose production has grown exponentially since the mid-20th century — today hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, and a significant share of this volume consists of polyolefins (PP and PE), the most widely produced plastic types in the world.
Since exact global figures can vary by source and measurement method, it is recommended to look at the current reports of international organizations such as PlasticsEurope or the OECD for the most up-to-date and reliable data.
Why is so much produced?
Plastic's light weight, low cost, durability and ease of shaping have made it an indispensable material in almost every sector, from packaging to automotive and from construction to textiles. This same growth also brings along the discussion that recycling and waste-management infrastructure needs to develop at a proportionate pace.
Related articles
An Overview of Türkiye's Plastic Raw Material Market
How big is the sector, and how is the import-export balance trending? Highlights from PAGEV's current sector monitoring report.
The History of Plastic: From the First Plastic to Today
From billiard balls to petrochemical giants: how was plastic invented, and when did polypropylene and polyethylene enter industry?
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