Türkiye’s SASA Polyester announced sweeping details of its $25 billion petrochemical investment in Yumurtalık, positioning the project as one of the largest industrial undertakings in the country’s history. The multi-phase complex, unveiled this week, is designed to dramatically reduce Türkiye’s reliance on imported petrochemicals while propelling SASA into the ranks of global-scale producers.
The project, located in the southern Adana province, will encompass integrated facilities for paraxylene, purified terephthalic acid (PTA), monoethylene glycol (MEG), and a wide range of downstream polymer units. SASA emphasized that the investment will secure raw material supply for its polyester operations, while also creating surplus capacity that can be exported to regional markets. With domestic petrochemical imports running at nearly $15 billion annually, the initiative is being framed as a strategic cornerstone for Türkiye’s industrial self-sufficiency.
Executives highlighted that construction will be staged over several years, with the initial phases expected to come online within the next decade. Once fully operational, the complex is projected to have an annual production capacity exceeding several million tons across key intermediates and polymers, rivaling the scale of leading petrochemical hubs in Asia and the Middle East.
Analysts see the project as a landmark shift in Türkiye’s industrial policy. By developing a fully integrated chain from feedstocks to finished products, SASA aims to capture greater value domestically, protect against currency volatility linked to imports, and create tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The announcement also comes at a time when global petrochemical markets are grappling with oversupply in certain chains, underscoring SASA’s ambition to carve out a competitive export position.
The company’s management noted that financing will draw on a combination of domestic and international partnerships, with the backing of the Turkish government considered essential for a project of this magnitude. Industry observers stressed that beyond economics, the Yumurtalık investment carries geopolitical weight, reinforcing Türkiye’s role as a regional energy and manufacturing hub straddling Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
For market stakeholders, SASA’s $25 billion bet signals not only confidence in long-term polymer demand but also the beginning of a structural shift in Türkiye’s petrochemical landscape. If executed as planned, the Yumurtalık complex will transform the balance of trade, reshape supply chains, and elevate Türkiye from a net importer to a key regional producer in the decades to come.
