Türkiye Exports Tropical Fruit to 57 Regions

Turkey exported USD 6.461 million worth of tropical fruit to 57 countries and regions in 2020. Hayrettin Uçak, Chairman of the Aegean Fresh Produce Exporters Association, said that Turkey's tropical fruit exports have increased by 40 percent over the past three years. "Branding in agriculture and food as a country depends on producing high-value products and producing what the world demands. Turkey has moved from being an importing country in tropical fruit to being an exporting country to 57 different countries and regions. Turkey's total tropical fruit exports were USD 4.69 million in 2018, USD 5.11 million in 2019, and reached USD 6.461 million in 2020. By increasing the varieties of tropical fruit grown and exported in our country, we are gradually expanding our value-added chain. Starting this path with kiwi and avocado, we have broadened our tropical fruit product range by adding dragon fruit, passion fruit, carambola, papaya, mango, guava pear, mango, pineapple, coconut, blueberry, kumquat and similar products. Turkey, with its climate, soil, biodiversity and geographical location, by adhering to planned, programmed and good agricultural practices, will be able to reach more markets not only with its traditional products but also with new alternative products, and will be in a position to take its exports to higher levels."

Referring to the importance of establishing Agriculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zones in increasing product diversity and producing high-value products such as tropical fruit, Uçak continued his remarks as follows:

"With the activation of Agriculture-Based Specialized Organized Industrial Zones, we will increase Turkey's total agricultural product exports to USD 30 billion. Turkey has recognition in Europe in fresh produce. We aim to further increase our exports of tropical fruit to the EU, the largest consumer market for tropical fruit. The vast majority of our tropical fruit exports is made up of kiwi, which accounts for approximately USD 4 million. Our kiwi exports increased by 28 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, reaching USD 4.123 million. In avocado, the second most exported product, our exports increased by 22 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, reaching USD 1.489 million. Blueberry is our third most exported product with USD 518,000. Russia with USD 1.271 million, Lebanon with USD 863,000 and Romania with USD 463,000 are among the top three countries where we conduct the most tropical fruit exports. Libya with USD 418,000, Ukraine with USD 374,000, Dubai with USD 287,000, Spain with USD 226,000, Uzbekistan with USD 229,000, Bulgaria with USD 192,000 and Germany with USD 183,000 are among the top 10 countries in our exports."