UKUB chairman Eçin: Turkish mold industry is a 3-billion-dollar market running at about 60% capacity

Speaking to Ekonomi Gazetesi, Şahan Eçin, chairman of the National Mold Manufacturers Association (UKUB), assessed the state of the mold industry and the opportunity in Europe. The report gives no export figure or exact company count.

• Industry size: about a 3-billion-dollar market in Turkey, with more than 5,000 companies and roughly 100,000 employees.
• Global market: 120 billion dollars, expected to reach 180 billion by 2036. Turkey's share is about 2.5%.
• Capacity utilization: about 60%.
• Indirect effect: the industry is estimated to influence 8-10 billion dollars of economic activity.

European opportunity: Rising costs in Europe and competition from China are speeding up the search for alternative suppliers. Eçin says Turkey has lost its old "cheap country" image but is still a strong alternative for European buyers. Contacts with the German Toolmakers' Association (VDWF) are increasing; a German delegation is planned to visit Turkey in Q3 2026. The association aims to hold a large World Mold Makers Summit in Turkey in 2027.

Industry problems: high investment costs and long project times, low profitability, longer payment terms, a shortage of skilled labor and the risk of losing know-how. Energy, raw-material access, logistics, labor and exchange-rate swings add to cost pressure. According to Eçin, "getting it right the first time" has become the key to controlling costs.

What does this mean for a molder?

With capacity use around 60%, molders who source tooling domestically may have room to negotiate on price and lead time. The emphasis on getting it right the first time also shows the value of up-front calculation (filling, cooling, clamp force) that reduces mold trials; see our calculation tools.