In the January-May period of this year, 31 thousand 115 tons of dried apricots were exported from Malatya, where the earthquakes in Kahramanmaras caused great destruction, and $169 million 582 thousand of foreign currency inflow was provided.
According to the information compiled by AA correspondent from Malatya Commodity Exchange data, Malatya apricot, Turkiye’s product with geographical indication certificate in the presence of the European Union, continues to make us smile with its export income.
In May, $30 million 686 thousand of foreign currency inflow was provided in return for 4 thousand 957 tons of dried apricot exports.
In the first 5 months of the year, 31 thousand 115 tons of dried apricots were exported to 110 countries including the USA, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Netherlands, Russia, Israel, Italy, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Canada and Egypt, and a revenue of $169 million 582 thousand was obtained.
In the same period of last year, a foreign exchange inflow of $143 million 318 thousand was provided to the country in return for 28 thousand 205 tons of dried apricot exports from Malatya, where most of the world’s dried apricot production is carried out.
Malatya Commodity Exchange Chairman Ramazan Ozcan told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they successfully completed the month of May in the export of dried apricots.
Explaining that the apricot businesses in the city, which was affected by the earthquakes in Kahramanmaras, experienced a rapid recovery, Ozcan stated that exports continued despite the earthquake.
Numbers are pleasing
Ozcan stated that although February, March and April were under the shadow of the earthquake, dried apricot exports did not slow down and continued as follows:
“Dried apricot exports still remain the most important item in the dried fruit group in Turkiye. As the improvements in the earthquake zone increase, especially in the structural social life in the region, our problems and troubles in apricot exports disappear. In May last year, we exported 3,561 tons of dried apricots and generated a revenue of $19 million 963 thousand. This year, we achieved an increase in both quantity and revenue. These are very encouraging numbers. On the one hand, the export of the product in existing stocks continues, on the other hand, we are now preparing for the new season. Our 5-month export figures and revenues are really pleasing. Hopefully, we want to increase our first five-month figures at the end of the season.”
Harvest in Malatya, the “world’s apricot capital”, is expected to begin in the first weeks of July.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz