- Business
- Petkim Petrokimya Holding Anonim Sirketi, Turkey's leading integrated petrochemical producer, manufactures a broad range of polymers and chemicals including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), masterbatches, olefins, fibers, aromatics and caustic soda; it supplies high-value-added raw materials such as thermoplastics and paint intermediates to industries including construction, packaging, automotive, textiles, agriculture, electronics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Aliaga, Izmir, the company operates primary production facilities in Aliaga and exports to approximately 48 countries across Europe, the United States, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East, meeting about 11% of Turkey's petrochemical raw material needs. A subsidiary of Socar Turkey Petrokimya AS and ultimately controlled by Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR), Petkim maintains auxiliary units for wastewater treatment, nitrogen and air supply, and supports sub-industries through nearly 60 petrochemical products developed with digital technologies, earning recognition as a World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse facility for Industry 4.0 standards. Recent developments include finalizing its indirect 12% stake in STAR Rafineri A.S. in 2023 after a 2018 agreement with a USD 480 million prepayment, boosting access to raw materials from Turkey's second-largest industrial enterprise; substantial investments by SOCAR totaling 6 billion Turkish lira (USD 154.7 million) in 2024 for plant modernization, energy efficiency and environmental protection; ongoing 2025 investments in optimization and technology upgrades that increased nearly twofold in the first quarter versus prior year; participation in a 1.2 million lira capital increase for subsidiary Petkim Specialities; and plans under SOCAR's $7 billion "Master Plan" for new polyolefin facilities at its Aliağa complex, with front-end engineering design in 2025-2026 and final investment decision by end-2026 to triple domestic market share.