According to the information compiled by the AA correspondent from the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Turkey, which carries dozens of products, especially grapes, figs, apricots and pistachios, to the world's tables, exported 231 thousand 434 tons of products in the January-September period.
Grapes, figs and apricots came to the fore in exports
Seedless raisins, one of the important agricultural products of the Aegean Region, ranked first in the sector's exports. In the 9 months of the year, 112 thousand 78 tons of seedless raisins were exported and an income of 336 million 416 thousand dollars was achieved.
An income of 210 million 585 thousand dollars was obtained from the drying and export of figs, which stand out with their production in Aydın and its surroundings. During this period, 35 thousand 137 tons of dried figs were sent to foreign markets.
Apricot, identified with Malatya's agricultural production, was among the main export products of the sector. The foreign sales of 24 thousand 669 tons of dried apricots amounted to 199 million 951 thousand dollars.
The total export revenue of seedless raisins, dried figs and dried apricots reached 746 million 952 thousand dollars.
Pistachios, one of the prominent products of Southeastern Anatolia, contributed to foreign sales with exports of 80 million 907 thousand dollars. Almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, roasted chickpeas and other dried fruits were also among the export products of the sector.
The biggest market is Germany
Germany ranked first in Türkiye's dried fruit and products exports with 146 million 980 thousand dollars. This country was followed by England with 132 million 718 thousand dollars and the USA with 100 million 354 thousand dollars.
In the Aegean, which hosts important centers of grape and fig production, dried fruits and products worth 689 million 823 thousand dollars were exported through the Aegean Exporters' Association.
The dried fruit and products sector generated a total income of 1 billion 126 million 64 thousand dollars from exports in the 9 months of the year.
"We aim to export more than last year"
Şemsettin Özgür, Chairman of the Turkish Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association Sector Board, told the AA correspondent that last year there was a shortage of products, especially in apricots and grapes, due to frost, but this year they had a more fruitful season for both products.
Stating that the sector produces largely with domestic inputs, Özgür stated that they aim to increase export income by utilizing the increasing product supply in world markets.
Şemsettin Özgür stated that the prices should be transferred taking into account international competitive conditions and consumer habits and said, "When the price is too high, you lose the market. When the price is too low, you lose the return. We expect high production of our dried fruit products this year. It should be marketed and found a place in the world in a way that will bring the greatest return to our country with the most exports possible. We aim to export more than last year at the end of the year." he said.
Stating that they will attend the SIAL Paris International Food Fair, the world's most important dried fruit and food fair, to be held in France between 17-21 October, Özgür expressed that they believe they will establish important collaborations here.
