Cement exports from Turkey in the first half of 2019 have increased by 46 per cent YoY to US$444m, according to the Turkish Cement Manufacturers’ Association (TÇMB).

TÇMB Chairman, Nihat Özdemir, said that the sector continues to contribute to Turkey's economy by producing approximately 71Mt of clinker and 75Mt of cement annually in 2018. "In the first six months of the year, cement exports increased by 38 percent to 5.3 million tons, while clinker exports soared 116 percent to 6 million tons.” The US, Ghana and Israel are the largest importers of Turkish cement.

Mr Özdemir also announced his decision to resign from the TÇMB to take up a post as president of the Turkish Football Federation.