Import and Export Ratio Rises in Agriculture, Food and Beverage Sector

In the first six months of the year, imports had increased 7.6% compared to the same period in the previous year. This indicated that imports slowed in the subsequent period compared to the first half of 2020.

Monthly exports rose to USD 1.86 billion

On a monthly basis, September imports fell 6.9% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching USD 1.1 billion. Monthly exports rose 5.7%, reaching USD 1.86 billion. In August, imports increased 6.4% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching USD 0.97 billion. Monthly exports rose 11.5%, reaching USD 1.4 billion.

Significant increase in trade balance compared to previous year

In the first nine months of this year, the sector's trade balance increased 32.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching USD 2.89 billion. In the first seven months of 2020, the sector's trade balance had increased 11.6% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching USD 2.11 billion. The continuous increase in trade balance throughout the year was evaluated positively. Export unit value increased 5% in nine months compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching USD 1,029/ton, while import unit value increased 0.8%, reaching USD 485/ton.

Highest volume products in foreign trade

In the January-September period of this year, the leading products were shelled hazelnuts, flour and pasta, which accounted for 14.6% of total exports. The most imported products were wheat, soybeans and sunflower oil. These three products accounted for approximately 23% of total imports. In September, the most exported products were shelled hazelnuts, wheat flour and pasta, while the most imported products were wheat, palm oil and other prepared foods.

Sectors with highest exports

Tree nuts, fresh fruit, sugar and sugar products, vegetable oil and dried fruit/vegetables ranked as the sectors with the most exports in the first nine months of this year. A total of 42.5% of exports were achieved by these five sectors. Animal feed, vegetable oil, flour, starch and cocoa-chocolate were recorded as the sectors with the most imports during the period in question. A total of 64.8% of imports were achieved by these five sectors. Animal feed, with a volume of USD 2.81 billion, accounted for 23.9% of total imports.

Sectors with increasing and decreasing exports

In January-September 2020, compared to the same period of the previous year, the sectors with the largest value increase in exports were fresh fruit with an increase of USD 284 million and vegetable oil with an increase of USD 237 million, followed by tree nuts with USD 211 million, pasta with USD 122 million and legumes with USD 120 million. The sectors with the largest decline in exports were flour with a decrease of USD 70 million, egg production with USD 55 million, dairy and dairy products with USD 42 million, dried fruit/vegetables with USD 40 million and animal feed with USD 37 million. In the first nine months of the year, the sectors with the largest import increases were vegetable oil with an increase of USD 154 million, legumes with an increase of USD 146 million, cocoa and chocolate with an increase of USD 56 million, pasta with an increase of USD 47 million and sugar and sugar products with an increase of USD 46 million. The legumes sector showed a 59.1% increase in imports over nine months. The sectors with the largest import declines were live animal trade with a decrease of USD 262 million, starch with USD 96 million, animal feed with USD 81 million, tobacco and tobacco products with USD 78 million and vegetables with USD 66 million. The USD 262 million decline in the live animal trade sector imports was evaluated as a positive development for the national economy.

Leading countries in foreign trade

When nine-month foreign trade data were examined by country, the top three countries with the most exports were Iraq with USD 2.071 billion, Germany with USD 1.196 billion and Russia with USD 849 million. Exports to these three countries accounted for 28.1% of total exports. By country, the most exported products were flour, chicken meat and waffles to Iraq, packaged hazelnuts, shelled hazelnuts and cherries to Germany, and peaches, palm oil and cherries to Russia. In the first nine months of the year, the countries with the most imports were Russia with USD 2.223 billion, Brazil with USD 1.125 billion and the USA with USD 694 million. Imports from Russia, Brazil and the USA accounted for 34.4% of total imports. The leading products in imports from Russia were wheat, sunflower oil and sunflowers, imports from Brazil were soybeans, coffee and tobacco, while imports from the USA were ethylene glycol, DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles) and almond kernels. Source