China-based Zhejiang invests in Türkiye’s Sanliurfa to produce 40,000 thermoses per day

Termosan Celik, a Turkish manufacturer of steel thermoses, partnered with Chinese Zhejiang to launch a $25 million plant in Sanliurfa.

The plant, operating under the Termomug Celik brand, will span 35,000 square meters and have a production capacity of 40,000 thermoses per day. With over 70% of the production processes automated, Sanliurfa is poised to become a global hub for thermos manufacturing.

‘Aiming for global markets’

Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, Chairman of Termomug’s Board, highlighted the company’s ambitions to quadruple its capacity and target mega clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions seeking alternatives outside China.

“We plan to commence production by May 2025. Currently, we produce private-label products for over 80 brands and export to 45 countries. Instead of competing with China, we decided to collaborate and harness mutual strengths. This partnership will position Türkiye as one of the leading thermos suppliers in global markets,” said Yilmaz, interviewing economy-focused dunya.com.

Discussing the partnership with their Chinese counterparts, Yilmaz explained: “While preparing to order machinery for our project, we received a partnership offer from a Chinese company. With U.S.-China trade tensions prompting Chinese firms to invest abroad, this collaboration aligns with market needs.”

‘Türkiye’s cost advantages attract attention’

Yilmaz emphasized the strategic importance of the U.S. market, which represents $1.5 billion in annual thermos sales and houses globally renowned brands.

“We’re in talks with major players like Stanley and Yeti. They’ve shown interest in our Termomug project, which addresses their need for higher production volumes. Preliminary discussions regarding R&D and quality audits are set to begin after the new year,” he stated.

Zhou Yichao, Chairman of Zhejiang Yongheng HouseHold, lauded Termosan as the top producer outside China and expressed optimism about the Termomug plant’s ability to penetrate new markets.

He also cited Türkiye’s strategic location, cost advantages and customs benefits as key factors influencing their investment decision.