The $25 billion investment in the SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş. Special Industrial Zone, set to be realized in Yumurtalık, coastal district of Adana, will reduce Türkiye's dependence on imports in the chemical and petrochemical sectors, increase exports, and transform Yumurtalık into a massive industrial center in the next 10-15 years.

Yumurtalık district of Adana is preparing to become the new center of Türkiye's chemical and petrochemical vision. With a $25 billion mega investment, SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş. is establishing a strategic industrial zone that will reduce the country's dependence on imports and increase exports.

The decision published in the Official Gazette on August 16th, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, declared an area of 5.5 million square meters in Yumurtalık as the "SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş. Special Industrial Zone." The first phase of the project, which will be built in three stages, includes a facility that produces 1.2 million tons of polypropylene annually (a durable plastic raw material used in packaging, textiles, and automotive), an integrated refinery with a capacity of 13 million tons, and modern port infrastructure. The construction work is planned to start in the first or second quarter of 2026.

It will substitute the import of aromatic chemicals.
With the new facilities, Türkiye's annual aromatic chemical imports are expected to decrease by around 6-7 billion dollars. Paraxylene and polypropylene, which will play a critical role in raw material production, will meet the needs of the domestic market and also generate foreign currency for the country through exports.

Mr. Mehmet Şeker, SASA Board Member, said, "Our goal is to increase Türkiye's production capacity for high-value-added products and reduce imports. Our facilities in Yumurtalık will not only meet the country's strategic needs but also enhance our competitiveness in global markets."

It will bring economic dynamism to Adana and the Mediterranean Region.

Noting that with the new project, 8,000 to 10,000 people will be employed during the construction phase, and 2,500 to 3,000 people with the completion of the facilities, Şeker added, "Yumurtalık will turn into a massive chemical industry region in the next 10 to 15 years. This project, which will change Türkiye's petrochemical map, will bring economic dynamism to Adana and the Mediterranean Region."


Şeker, while stating that they are trying to contribute to the country’s economy with new investments, said: "Türkiye has an import of over 20 billion dollars in aromatic chemicals. Additionally, there is an annual need of approximately 2.5 million tons of polypropylene. Here, paraxylene, which is the raw material for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and polyester, will be produced. By producing these products from naphtha and condensate oil, we will prevent chemical imports. Our purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production at SASA has started at 4,800 tons per day, approximately 1,750,000 tons annually. We used to import this, but we do not anymore. In the new facility that we will establish to contribute to our country’s economy, we will especially produce paraxylene used as a basic raw material in the production of polyester fiber, polyester resin, and PET bottles, thus ending imports as well."

We export to the USA, Europe, Africa, and the Far East countries.

Şeker, who said that they export to the USA, Europe, Africa, and Far East countries, said, "With these new products, we will be able to reduce Türkiye's imports to some extent. By producing the products that the domestic market needs, we will export the remaining part to different countries around the world. When the facility starts operating in 4 years, it will help us prevent $6-7 billion in imports. Some companies in Türkiye will make new products from the raw materials we produce."

News Source: Akib Aktüel Magazine