Turkish plastics industry hit by Middle East conflict as supply chains break down

The military conflict in the Middle East has reportedy disrupted supply chains to the point where production stoppages have been triggered across Turkey’s plastics sector.

Factories in many cities, including Istanbul, Gaziantep and Konya, have been forced to halt operations as soaring costs and blocked access to polymer feedstock—the industry’s core input—have created a dual crisis of price and availability, , business daily Ekonomi has reported.

Industry representatives warn that the situation threatens broader manufacturing, from packaging to textiles, white goods and automotive, and are urging the government to adopt protective measures to safeguard production. One call is for the temporary removal of additional taxes on raw materials.

Yavuz Eroglu, chair of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (Tobb) of Turkey’s Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Assembly, was cited as saying that polymer prices have surged between 60% and 80% depending on type. He noted that Turkey was directly exposed to bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil and gas reserves transit, passing the coastline of war-embroiled Iran.

Logistics costs have risen by 70%, Eroglu added, with packaging prices already reflecting a 25% increase.

“From cheese containers to water bottles, plastics are integral to daily life, and the current crisis will exert significant inflationary pressure across key sectors,” he was reported as saying by Ekonomi.