Dried Fruit Sector Seeks Support from Ankara for $2 Billion Export Target

Turkish dried fruit sector calls for strengthened public support and industry cooperation to reach USD 2 billion export target for 2026-2027 season.

The Turkish dried fruit sector entered the 2026-2027 season with a USD 2 billion export target. Sector representatives met with Eyyüp Kadir İnan, Secretary General of the AK Party and Member of Parliament for İzmir, to discuss new season expectations and priority agenda items for the sector.

Yusuf Gabay, Sustainability and Organic Products Coordinator of Aegean Export Associations and Chair of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association Board, noted that crop yield expectations for the 2026-2027 season are positive for seedless dried grapes, dried apricots and dried figs, which hold significant shares in Turkey's dried fruit exports.

Crop yield expectations support export targets
Gabay recalled that harvest losses during the 2025-2026 season had a negative impact on export performance, and stated that they do not expect significant production-related problems in the 2026-2027 season.

Gabay noted that coordinated work among producers, exporters, traders, universities and public institutions in the new season will play a critical role in the sector reaching its export targets, and said that joint work in food safety will also support competitiveness in international markets.

Emphasis on sector cooperation
Sector representatives highlighted the importance of strengthening public-private sector cooperation for sustainable export growth, maintaining quality standards in production, and extending food safety practices.

The visit was also attended by Yalçın Geyik, Vice Chair of the Southeastern Anatolia Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association Board, and Ahmet Bilge Göksan and Eliya Alharal, board members of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association.