$70 million of dried figs were exported in 1.5 months

According to the data obtained from the Aegean Exporters Union, figs have been sent to 81 countries so far in the export season that started on September 30. An income of $70 million 220 thousand was obtained from the 18 thousand 157 tons of exports made in about 1.5 months. During this period, the most products were sent to Germany with $12 million of export value. This country was followed by France with $ 10.5 million and Italy with $ 7.4 million.

Birol Celep, the president of the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters Association, stated that fig export continues smoothly and that dried figs provided a significant foreign currency inflow to Turkey. Celep noted the followings:

‘’Our exports continue non-stop. Our figs will continue to be consumed in a sustainable manner, increasingly every year. Due to the pandemic, there is a great demand for natural products. Figs also stand out as a natural product. The chances of our products continue in both consumption and economical pricing stages. If we are patient and make our marketing strategies in the sectoral sense by creating a value chain, the advantages of our sector set a serious example. ‘’

‘’We work hard to keep up with the demands.’’

Mustafa Bircan, President of Germencik TARIS Fig Union reminded that they exported 1000 tons of dried figs in a period of 1.5 months. Emphasizing that they export 80 percent of the products, Bircan said:

‘’We send figs to the world 12 months of the year. Customers want figs every month. There is a demand for dried fruit due to healthy nutrition all over the world. This demand for figs has increased significantly. Our workers do not even take a day off; on the contrary, 400 of our workers worked on Saturdays and Sundays. Due to the pandemic, there was an increase in our sales and new customers came. We are currently working overtime in the evenings to keep up with the demands.’’

The top 5 countries that imported the most in the 1.5 months after the start of the season are as follows:

source: AA / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu