Osman İlgen / KÜB Chairman of the Board
How was the year 2022 in terms of the sector?
In general, the Turkish economy showed a good growth performance in the first two quarters of 2022 and followed a course that exceeded expectations. Although this is a very important achievement, there is also another side of the medallion. From a sectoral point of view, both concrete producers and construction industry stakeholders still have concerns. The construction industry experienced a contraction in two quarters of 2022. The construction industry stands out as the sector with the lowest confidence level in the real sector confidence index compared to other sectors. The main reason is that the sector is affected by macroeconomic balances much faster than other sectors. From the general perspective, it is predicted that cement production, which was 82 million tons in 2021, will decrease to 73 million tons in 2022.
In addition, the concrete additive sector is following a very parallel course with the construction sector as a growth trend. All the growth or shrinkage in these sectors is directly reflected in our sector as well. For this reason, predictability and trust are of great importance for investments in the concrete additive sector.
On the other hand, one of the biggest mischances of the chemical additive industry is that almost all of the raw materials come from abroad. All fluctuations in the exchange rate affect the sector significantly. It is also out of the question that these raw materials are produced on a domestic level as of now. This requires investments such as large petrochemical plants.
What activities did you carry out as an association in 2022? What will be your studies in general for 2023 and beyond?
The first and only representative of the chemical additive sector, KUB (Additive Manufacturers Association) feels the pulse of the sector and provides services to all its stakeholders through the joint work of its members. In the surveys it conducts, the activity and expectations of the players of the sector are measured. The results of the analysis revealed that the confidence of the sector players in the economy and their expectations for the future are far behind the level they should be.
Despite all this, when we look at the concrete additive sales statistics of EFCA (European Concrete Additive Manufacturers Federation), of which we are a member, among member country associations, in 2022, Türkiye is the largest representative of Europe in terms of volume. Türkiye continues to be ahead of the European market in terms of volume.
In 2022, our members are under the roof of KÜB attended the 9th International Cement Industry and Technologies Conference, the 2nd Concrete Roads Congress and Exhibition and the 18th International Technical Congress organized by IMO with all their members.
In 2023, when we celebrate the 25th anniversary of KÜB, we will undertake important works and organizations together with all our members.
Which issues will come to the fore in the sector for 2023 and beyond?
According to the estimated sales data we received from manufacturers in the Concrete and Mortar Chemical Additives sector, we can talk about a volume of 565 thousand tons in 2021. On the product basis, waterreducing and highly water-reducing Concrete Additives were realized at the level of 80% of the total tonnage in question.
One of our fundamental goals and strategies as the members of our association is to become compatible with the world and to carry the standards to the international level. In addition, one of the other important agendas of KÜB is the production and greater use of environmentally friendly products in line with the new climate agreements signed by our country. We predict that many more regulations will be published in this area in the coming period. Therefore, new standards will emerge that all manufacturers and stakeholders operating in the sector must comply with, and everyone will need to adapt to them. As an Association, we are constantly continuing to prepare for this process.
Today, with the increased use of new generation concrete additive materials produced in the light of new technologies, the damage caused to the environment by the construction sector continues to decrease day by day. The contribution and support of the member companies of KÜB to the sustainable development goals of our country will continue to increase in this sense.
