Dried Fig Export Target Set at $300 Million

Dried Figs Target USD 300 Million Turkey's 2023 dried fig harvest is expected to reach 2022 levels, as the country leads global production and exports in this category. Mehmet Ali Işık, Chairman of Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, noted that exports totaling USD 244 million have been achieved from 68,593 tonnes out of the 91,000-tonne 2022 harvest to date. He stated that the association achieved a 7% increase in volume and a 2% increase in value compared to the previous season. Speaking at the Advisory General Assembly Meeting of Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, Chairman Işık said the 2023 harvest shows similarity to 2022 and that dried fig quality is highly suitable for export. He continued as follows: "For the 2023/24 season, we are targeting 75,000 tonnes in export volume and USD 300 million in foreign currency earnings. While Turkey's average kilogram export price is USD 1.5, we want to sell this quality dried fig at over USD 5 per kilogram, thereby making a significant contribution to high-value product exports. We wish the new season prosperity for our producers, merchants and exporters." Recalling that major dried fig export markets in the European Union have raised aflatoxin and ochratoxin testing frequency to 30%, Chairman Işık continued: "We work intensively to manage the risks we may encounter when exporting dried figs. In the end, we are exporting a sealed product. Producers, handlers, merchants and exporters in our country must establish a proper supply chain. As exporters, we must check when purchasing the product. We have decided to purchase UV lamps within budget and distribute them so that handlers who purchase products from producers can conduct their inspections. We will obtain these lamps from Aydın Trade Exchange and Nazilli Trade Exchange and distribute them to handlers and merchants. This way we will have initiated a healthy product procurement policy." At the Advisory General Assembly Meeting of Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, a recommendation decision was adopted that the 2023/24 dried fig season should begin at the end of the first week of October. This decision will be submitted to the Ministry of Commerce. The final decision will be made by the Ministry of Commerce.

United States leads in dried fig exports

In the 2022/23 season, the United States topped dried fig exports from Turkey at USD 39.7 million. Dried fig exports to the US were USD 31.9 million in the same period of the 2021/22 season. Dried fig exports to the US increased by 24%. France ranked second in dried fig exports at USD 28.5 million, while Germany held third place with USD 27.3 million.

Record growth in dried fig exports to China

Ege Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği's efforts toward the People's Republic of China, which was identified as a target market and has been promoted for many years, bore fruit in the 2022/23 season. Dried fig exports to the People's Republic of China surged from USD 3.1 million to USD 9.6 million with a record 184% increase. With this growth, the People's Republic of China rose to fourth place in dried fig exports by volume.