The Turkish plastics processing industry is consolidating its role as a major regional hub, both in terms of production volumes and imports of processing technology. According to estimates by the local trade association PAGEV, in 2024 the sector's production exceeded 10 million tons, with a value approaching 53 billion US dollars, of which around 7 billion dollars was generated by exports. Over the last decade, the industry's growth rate has outpaced that of the country's gross domestic product, confirming the structural expansion of plastics processing activities in Turkey.
Packaging accounts for approximately 40% of Turkish plastics production, supported by robust domestic demand, which increased by six percentage points in the first half of 2025. Construction is the second largest outlet sector for plastics converters and is also expected to expand in the current year, with forecasts indicating growth of around 4%. These application segments are significant drivers for investment in new and more advanced processing technologies, particularly in extrusion and blow molding.
In this market context, Turkey has become a strategic destination for European technology suppliers, including Italian manufacturers of machinery, equipment and molds for plastics and rubber. Based on foreign trade data published by ISTAT, the Amaplast Study Center, belonging to the trade association affiliated with Confindustria and representing more than 170 manufacturers, has calculated that Italian exports of plastics and rubber processing technology to Turkey recorded an average annual growth of 11% in the period 2020–2024. This performance has consolidated Turkey's position among the ten most important foreign markets for Italian machinery producers.
Despite this positive medium-term trend, a sharp slowdown in Italian exports to Turkey was observed in the first half of the current year compared with the same period in 2024. Nevertheless, the structural demand for high value added systems remains significant. The majority of Italian supplies to Turkish converters consist of extrusion lines and associated downstream equipment, as well as blow molding machines, often engineered and customized according to specific customer requirements. These deliveries underline the role of Italian manufacturers as suppliers of technologically advanced, tailor-made solutions for both packaging and construction related applications.
High import dependence for advanced plastics technology
Turkey hosts a relatively substantial domestic machinery industry for plastics processing, yet local production still covers less than one third of total demand for processing technology. For the most sophisticated equipment, Turkish processors continue to rely heavily on imports, with Germany and Italy among the leading supplier countries. This structural import dependence affects in particular high performance extrusion systems, complex downstream lines and blow molding technologies, where European manufacturers maintain a strong competitive position in terms of process stability, automation and customization.
Within this framework, Plast Eurasia in Istanbul, scheduled from 3 to 6 December, will function as an important platform for Italian technology suppliers to strengthen their presence on the Turkish market and in neighboring regions. For the first time, Amaplast is coordinating a national pavilion that will host around a dozen Italian companies across an area of more than 200 square meters in hall 7. The pavilion will be located next to the association's institutional stand (no. 720A), which will serve as a reference point for visitors and local partners.
Italian group stand at Plast Eurasia
The Italian collective participation organized by Amaplast at Plast Eurasia brings together a selection of member companies active in different segments of plastics and rubber processing technology. Exhibitors in the national pavilion in hall 7 include Bausano, Fimic, Fisa Italia, Gefit, IPM, Maris, Mixron, Omso, Plas Mec and Uniloy Italia. Their presence reflects the breadth of Italian know how in areas such as extrusion, recycling and filtration, surface treatment, automation, compounding and blow molding.
In addition to the companies directly represented in the coordinated pavilion, numerous other Italian manufacturers will be present at Plast Eurasia independently or via their local agents and branches. This distributed presence confirms the role of the Istanbul trade fair as a regional showcase for Italian technology in plastics and rubber processing. Italian manufacturers are consistently positioned among the leading global producers and exporters of machinery, equipment and molds for the sector and use the event to maintain and expand their commercial relationships with Turkish converters and their customers in neighboring markets.
Plast 2026 promoted to Turkish and regional markets
Plast Eurasia will also provide an opportunity to promote the 20th edition of Plast, the international triennial exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry organized by Promaplast srl, the service company of Amaplast. The next edition of Plast will take place in Milan from 9 to 12 June 2026 and will be presented in Istanbul to Turkish operators and visitors from surrounding countries. Information on the Milan exhibition will be available at the dedicated Plast stand (no. 708B) in hall 7, in direct proximity to the Italian group pavilion and the Amaplast institutional stand.
The parallel promotion of Italian machinery at Plast Eurasia and of the Plast 2026 exhibition illustrates the integrated approach pursued by Amaplast and Promaplast, combining support for member companies on export markets with the organization of a major international platform in Italy. For Turkish converters seeking advanced solutions in extrusion, blow molding and related processes, this provides multiple channels to access information, establish contacts and evaluate the latest developments in plastics and rubber processing technology supplied by Italian manufacturers.
