The fresh fruit and vegetable sector exported 964 million dollars with an increase of 3 percent in the first 3 months of 2024, and the finished goods sector exported 708 million dollars with an increase of 29 percent.
Turkey’s fresh fruit, vegetable and products industry continued its 18% export increase in 2023 in the first quarter of this year. Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu, President of Istanbul Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (İYMSİB), said that the fresh fruit and vegetable sector will export approximately 3 billion 500 million dollars last year, with an increase of 18% compared to 2022, and the fruit and vegetable products sector will export approximately 2 billion 500 million dollars. He stated that he did.
Referring to the first quarter figures of 2024, Mutlu stated that the fresh fruit and vegetable sector made a rapid start to the new year with exports of 964 million dollars with an increase of 3% compared to the same period of the previous year, and the finished goods sector with exports of 708 million dollars with an increase of 29%. brought.
Mutlu stated that exports from Istanbul reached 145 million dollars with an increase of 19.2% in the first quarter of the year. Mutlu said that in the last 12 months, the most exports from Istanbul were made to Germany, the USA and the United Kingdom, and pointed out that these three countries received a 25% share of the union’s exports. Mutlu noted that 25% of exports from Istanbul are mineral and mineral waters, apple juice and tomatoes.
“America and the Far East are important markets”
Stating that the sector is gradually growing, Mutlu underlined that price stability and uninterrupted raw material supply, which are the two most important problems facing the sector, must be solved for sustainability. Explaining that Turkey ranks 4th in the world in the production of fresh vegetables and fruits with approximately 55 million tons, Mutlu said, “Our main export markets are Europe and Russia, but we also want to enter distant markets. Especially America and the Far East are important markets for us. On the other hand, the Middle East is another market we focus on. We can reach 1.5 billion people with a 3.5-hour plane ride.
On the product side, there is no market that we do not enter. However, what is important at this point is to enter the market with our own brands and high value-added products. For example, we need to sell the fruit juice itself, not fruit juice concentrate,” he said. Stating that the product-based movement causes loss of added value and branding, Mutlu said, “If we make our products suitable for the world’s taste and sell them under the roof of Turkish cuisine, we will create a sustainable added value.”
İYMSİB rewarded the export success of 60 companies
Istanbul Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (İYMSİB) rewarded its members who contributed to the country’s economy with their exports in 2023. At the ceremony where the 10 companies that exported the most among the members of the union were announced, awards were also given to the companies that exported the most in the 5 sub-sectors within the union. At the ceremony, where the names of 60 companies in the top ten across the union were announced in five sub-sectors, namely fresh fruits and vegetables, canned food, frozen products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, awards were given to the top five companies, and export achievement certificates were given to the other companies in the top ten.
While Anadolu Etap Dış Ticaret ranked first among all sectors with its exports in 2023, TAT Gıda Sanayi ranked second and Mey İçki Sanayi ranked third. It was followed by Tunay Gıda and RAM Dış Ticaret, respectively. When looking at the sub-sectoral distribution; The leader of 2023 in the alcoholic beverages group was Mey İçki Sanayi, while Anadolu Etap Dış Ticaret was ranked first in non-alcoholic beverages, Kerevitas Gıda in frozen products, Çekok Gıda Sanayi in the fresh fruits and vegetables group, and Tat Gıda Sanayi in the canned products group.
President of Istanbul Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters’ Association Taycı: Despite the restrictions, the exporter succeeded
Stating that the exporter has achieved a significant success despite some difficulties and impossibilities, Kazım Taycı, President of Istanbul Grains, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters’ Association (IHBİR), said: “With the efforts of our exporters, we will take these successes even higher. While we increase our market diversity, we continue to export with a focus on added value.
One of the issues we dealt with the most during this period was the problems regarding tomato paste and tomato paste. We experience similar problems from time to time in various areas of food. Despite these problems, we increased exports by 4 percent. Our request from the ministries is to consult with us when any agricultural product is restricted, opened or closed. We are people who are in this business, we are producers. “We can offer some alternative solutions,” he said.