New Era for Grain, Pulses and Oilseeds Exporters

Cereals, Legumes and Oilseeds Exporters Enter New Era The Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, which recorded the highest export growth within Aegean Exporter Associations over the past four years with a 142% increase from USD 318 million to USD 771 million, held elections.

Election Results

The General Assembly of the Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association held a two-list election. The blue list prepared by Muhammet Öztürk, who served as Deputy Chair of the Management Board for eight years, won the election with 49 votes, while the orange list headed by Ayhan Ömeroğlu as Management Board Chair candidate received 44 votes.  

Mustafa Terci Elected to Audit Board

Mustafa Terci, who served as Management Board Chair during 2018-22, was listed as an Audit Board Member on Muhammet Öztürk's slate at the Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association.

Ramazan Abay Comments

Board Chair Ramazan Abay stated, "With the restriction on vegetable oil products, particularly sunflower oil, leaving the country as of 9 March 2022, we are losing customers, and our containers are waiting at ports where we are paying demurrage. At a time when the country faces a dead end, obstacles continue to be placed before exporters. The path for exporters must be cleared."

Muhammet Öztürk Comments

Muhammet Öztürk, elected as Management Board Chair of the Aegean Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, stated that they formed a balanced slate with representation from vegetable oil, poppy, nuts, flour, cereals, legumes and confectionery sectors on the management boards, that there are currently export products subject to restrictions, and that they will work to lift these bans in the coming term. Öztürk said, "With the lifting of bans on our export products, we will work to increase our current annual exports of USD 770 million to over USD 1 billion by the end of our term."   Mustafa Terci, elected as past chair for the 2018-22 period, stated, "Turkey had a successful year in 2021 in cereals, legumes, oilseeds and products exports. Our exports, which stood at USD 7 billion 292 million in 2020, increased by 26% compared to the previous year to USD 9 billion 156 million in 2021. Our export growth continued in the first quarter of 2022 and reached USD 10 billion."