Mining Engineer Hamit Tecer stated that Ünye has now become a world center for white bentonite and said, “The area between Ünye and Fatsa is known as the world’s largest white bentonite deposits. Therefore, all companies doing business with white bentonite know about this place and want to do business here. “If we evaluate it in terms of exports, there is an increasing momentum day by day,” he said.
It is known that white bentonite clay, which was called “living soil” during the Ottoman Empire and was used against common diseases, was used in various treatment methods, especially in the past. Bentonite clay, which is a type of volcanic clay and is still recommended today for its ability to strongly hold bacterial and toxic substances and throw them out of the body thanks to the electromagnetic negative charge it contains, can be used orally as well as various cosmetic products applied to the body. White bentonite, which plays an important role in removing harmful substances from the body and is mined between Ünye and Fatsa and plays an important role in exports after hazelnuts in the region, is exported to approximately 70 countries as well as the Turkish market.
The center of white bentonite in the world: Ünye
“This place is known as the largest bentonite deposit in the world, there is an increasing momentum day by day.”
Ünye Mining Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mining Engineer Hamit Tecer, said that the bentonite mined between Ünye and Fatsa is now a world brand. Stating that all companies doing business with bentonite are aware of this region, Tecer said, “Ünye has now become the world center of white bentonite. If we count the companies, there are approximately 7-8 companies here, including foreign companies. The source is here, between Ünye and Fatsa region, known as the world’s largest white bentonite deposits. Therefore, all companies doing business with white bentonite know about this place and want to do business here. If we evaluate it in terms of exports, there is an increasing momentum day by day. The capacities of all factories here are almost full, and the market is still increasing. “The market is still increasing not only in European countries, but also in Africa, Australia, America and Japan,” he said.
“Almost all of Europe has a very important place in cat litter, it is exported to 70 countries.”
“Bentonite production continues in two stages here,” said Tecer, “One is the industrial stage and this is mostly paper bentonite, cat litter and detergent bentonite, and bentonite used in ceramics. There are also products we produce for health, and their production and marketing continues separately. The biggest market for the products we produce industrially here, for example ceramic bentonite, is India, where there is a serious production market. Almost all of Europe has a very important place in cat litter. If we assume that 15 million tons of cat litter is consumed in the world and that this place produces approximately 80 thousand tons, the seriousness of the situation becomes clear, that is, there is a larger share in the market. We send many products to North African countries, as far as Australia and Colombia. The countries we export to are more than 40, but if we count all the companies in Ünye and Fatsa, the countries we export to are around 70. “There is no country where cat litter is not used now. When we started the sector in Turkey, there was an annual consumption of 2 thousand tons, now it is around 70 thousand tons,” he said.
The center of white bentonite in the world: Ünye
Stating that the recent fluctuations in foreign exchange have affected the trade in the sector, but it is pleasing that the region’s product is known worldwide, Tecer said, “The rapid increase in foreign exchange may seem to benefit the exporters, but all balances are disrupted and customer losses may occur. Unfortunately, there is a global crisis in the world regarding freight. Containers sent for 1,500 euros last year have increased up to 3,000 euros this year. On the Chinese side, there is a frightening event; these freight rates have tripled. “There have started to be many difficulties in trade and exporting from here to the Chinese side, but while we are struggling with these, the pleasing thing is that the product of this region is known worldwide and the companies doing business with bentonite are no longer bypassing this place and doing business here, which is a pleasing development, showing that the momentum here will increase,” he said.
“We are the only company producing in the healthcare sector”
Stating that they produce products at various points, from cosmetics to cat litter, from edible bentonite to industrial areas, which are known to have many benefits, Ünye Madencilik Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mining Engineer Hamit Tecer, said: “There are 7-8 companies here, but we are the only company that produces products in the health sector. We have now focused our attention a little more on this side because our industrial investment has almost reached the full point and we have equipped all parts of this place with facilities. For this reason, we are located in the organized industrial zone and we have plans to establish a facility there. However, since we are the only manufacturer in the health-related segment and we work very effectively on it, we see that we have an increasing market.
