Citrus Exports Reach $904 Million

Citrus product harvest in the Aegean Region was estimated at 769,302 tons in the 2023/24 season, down 335,186 tons from the previous season. In the 2022/23 season it was 412,030 tons, in the 2021/22 season 361,478 tons, in the 2020/21 season 434,116 tons, and in the 2019/20 season 442,349 tons. Hayrettin Uçak, Deputy Chairman Coordinator of Aegean Exporter Associations and Chairman of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, recalled that Turkey's citrus exports reached USD 904 million in 2022 and made the following statements on the subject: "In 2022, with 4 declines, citrus accounted for 30 percent of Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable exports totaling USD 2.953 billion. While Turkey exported 1.802 million tons of citrus in 2020, we reached 1.963 million tons in 2021 and 1.940 million tons in 2022."

Turkey ranks 8th globally, 2nd in Europe

Uçak stated that in 2022 Turkey's citrus exports reached USD 463 million with a 2 percent increase, with mandarin ranking first, lemon exports reaching USD 272 million, orange exports at USD 98 million, and grapefruit exports at USD 69 million. "Our country ranks 8th globally and 2nd in Europe in citrus production. We implemented exports to our main markets, which account for nearly 70 percent of our citrus exports, of USD 429 million to Russia, USD 84 million to Ukraine, USD 68 million to Iraq, USD 46 million to Poland with a 33 percent increase, and USD 42 million to Romania in 2022. In citrus, product volume this season is quite high compared to 2022. There is a notable increase in yield. Quality expectations are above average. We achieved a 14 percent increase in the Aegean Region in the 2022/23 season. A 86 percent increase is expected in the 2023/24 season. The 2023/24 period will be our most abundant season in which we will break records in citrus. Our target is to earn USD 1 billion for Turkey." Chairman Uçak stated, "There is a significant increase in oranges in the 2023 season compared to the previous year. The largest increase is largely evident in the Washington variety. In orange production in the 2023 season compared to the previous year, there is a 13 percent yield increase in Izmir, 158 percent in Mugla, and 528 percent in Aydin. In orange production in the 2023 season compared to the previous year, there is a 208 percent acceleration. For Satsuma mandarin, we expect a 16 percent increase in 2023 compared to the previous year. We detected a 76 percent yield increase in Aydin, 12 percent in Balıkesir, 4 percent in Izmir, and 23 percent in Mugla. We expect a 213 percent increase in lemon production compared to the previous year. A 222 percent increase is expected in Mugla. For grapefruit, the 2023/24 harvest is expected to increase by 10 percent." According to 2023 harvest estimates; in the Aegean Region, orange increased from 105,189 tons in 2022 to 324,663 tons in 2023, mandarin increased from 256,069 tons in 2022 to 299,260 tons in 2022, lemon advanced from 44,121 tons in 2022 to 138,326 tons in 2022, and grapefruit advanced from 6,190 tons to 6,831 tons.