The Carton Packaging Sector is Performing Well, Loans are a Problem.

Good Performance and Challenges in the Cardboard Packaging Sector

Alican Duran, General Manager of Duran Doğan Packaging and President of KASAD, appeared on the Üst Düzey program hosted by Arzu Maliki on Bloomberg HT to evaluate the dynamics of the sector.

Importance of the Western Europe and US Market

Duran stated that Western Europe is the largest market for the cardboard packaging sector. The economic downturn in this region is profoundly affecting exports from Turkey. However, the US market has become a significant opportunity in recent years. Duran emphasized this shift by stating, "America, which couldn't find a place in the old rankings, has now risen to the top."

Difficulties in Accessing Credit

Duran expressed concerns about product prices and the difficulties in obtaining credit: "It's hard to access credit. The high-interest rates are affecting our profitability. Despite these challenges, the sector is maintaining a successful performance with double-digit EBITDA figures."

Labor and Cost Issues

Duran pointed out that labor costs have increased with the depreciation of the Turkish Lira, which he stated decreases competitiveness. "Our labor costs have doubled. This is not a sustainable environment for industrialists," he said.

The Importance of Design and Recycling

Finally, Duran highlighted the success of Turkish designers at the Prokarton Award Ceremony and emphasized the importance of design in the sector. He also mentioned that the recycling rate of cardboard is 85%, underlining the significance of environmentally friendly products.