Plastic waste exports in Turkey
Turkey: Plastic waste exports was 10,567 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Turkey, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 10,567 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 21.1% on the previous year and down 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Turkey peaked at 25,716 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 354.23 tonnes, in 1989.
Turkey ranks 42nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Turkey, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 354.23 tonnes | — |
| 1990 | 608.54 tonnes | +71.8% |
| 1991 | 620.79 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 710.13 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1993 | 1,144 tonnes | +61.1% |
| 1994 | 913.32 tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1995 | 1,217 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1996 | 1,157 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 733.38 tonnes | -36.6% |
| 1998 | 883.5 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1999 | 3,168 tonnes | +258.6% |
| 2000 | 7,251 tonnes | +128.9% |
| 2001 | 5,847 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 2002 | 6,346 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 8,364 tonnes | +31.8% |
| 2004 | 6,303 tonnes | -24.6% |
| 2005 | 10,063 tonnes | +59.7% |
| 2006 | 12,454 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 2007 | 11,458 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 12,740 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 2009 | 11,231 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 16,121 tonnes | +43.5% |
| 2011 | 24,378 tonnes | +51.2% |
| 2012 | 19,844 tonnes | -18.6% |
| 2013 | 25,716 tonnes | +29.6% |
| 2014 | 20,015 tonnes | -22.2% |
| 2015 | 17,836 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 16,447 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 14,601 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 15,763 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 12,976 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2020 | 14,523 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 12,673 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 19,336 tonnes | +52.6% |
| 2023 | 8,723 tonnes | -54.9% |
| 2024 | 10,567 tonnes | +21.1% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 10,567 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 9.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 10,567 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Turkey changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +258.6% | 883.5 tonnes | 3,168 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 354.23 tonnes | 354.23 tonnes | 354.23 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 1,115 tonnes | 608.54 tonnes | 3,168 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,206 tonnes | 5,847 tonnes | 12,740 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,370 tonnes | 12,976 tonnes | 25,716 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,164 tonnes | 8,723 tonnes | 19,336 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More environment data for Turkey
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.6763 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 3.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 9.48 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Turkey?
- Plastic waste exports in Turkey was 10,567 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 25,716 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 354.23 tonnes in 1989.
- How does Turkey rank for plastic waste exports?
- Turkey ranks 42nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.