There remains untapped potential for Vietnamese plastic exporters inTurkey due to the high demand for plastic materials needed by a widerange of sectors.

According to the Import-Export Department underthe Ministry of Industry and Trade, Turkey has imported more than 10billion USD worth of plastic materials annually. This is because itsplastic material production only meets 15 – 20 percent of the amountrequired by its market and foreign importers. The sectors with highdemand for plastic materials include construction, automobiles,packaging and household goods production.

Turkey currentlypurchases plastic materials from more than 100 countries and territoriesaround the world. Of the total amount purchased by the country, 63percent comes from Saudi Arabia, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands,as well as the Republic of Korea, Spain and Italy.

The departmentnoted that Vietnam is also one of Turkey's plastic material providers.However, Vietnamese exports accounted for a modest 0.1 percent of thetotal import turnover of the product.

The department suggestedthat Vietnamese firms increase their market research and trade promotionas well as seek new Turkish trade partners to accelerate exports tothis lucrative market.

After posting a positive export turnoverof 20.7 million USD in 2013, Vietnam's shipments of plastic materials toTurkey reached only 6 million USD over the past 10 months of this year,showing a 43 percent decline year-on-year.-VNA