Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Board Member Åžaban Aziz KaramehmetoÄŸlu told the Council Members in his opening speech that they have left behind a difficult year due to the pandemic process and that the challenges are already ongoing, but as TOBB, they are with the sectors and working with the Public to solve all the difficulties experienced. Stating that they have submitted the requests from the sector assemblies to the relevant Ministries one-on-one, AzizoÄŸlu stated that they are always with the cement and cement products sector in this process.

At the meeting where the Presidential election of TOBB Turkey Cement and Cement Products Council was held, Fatih Yücelik, the Chief Executive Officer of Aşkale Cement Industry T.A.Ş., was elected as the Council President by the unanimous vote of the members of the Council.

Fatih Yücelik, who was elected Council President, expressed his thanks to all members for their support and trust. Yücelik informed the council members about the new term goals and shared with the council members the areas of cooperation that he benefited from in the joint action of the Public-private sector in the new period.

- Cement Industry figures

Stating that they are a strategic sector that employs about 17,000 people and contributes significantly to the country's economy with a turnover of $1.7 billion and export revenues of $1.1 billion, Council President Fatih Yücelik stated that they have increased their contributions to the country's economy as an industry that can continue to expand even during the pandemic period.

Stating that cement production in 2020 increased by 27% compared to 2019 to 76.5 million tons, domestic sales increased by 23% compared to the previous year and cement exports increased by 37%, Council President Yücelik stated that with this increase, domestic sales reached 59.2 million tons and exports reached 31.4 million tons.

Yücelik, who shared with the council members the information that clinker exports increased by 24% to 14.4 million tons and cement exports increased by 50% to 17 million tons and that the total export value increased by 27% to 1 billion 116 million dollars, emphasized the importance of the cement sector in the country's export figures.

Stating that Turkey is the second largest cement exporter in the world in 2020 after Vietnam, Council President Yücelik stated that the most important markets for exports to over a hundred countries are the United States, Israel, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

The meeting ended with the general assessments of the councilors and wishes for the new term.