In the first 10 months of the apricot export season from Malatya, where earthquakes in Kahramanmaras caused great destruction, a revenue of $390 million was obtained in return for the sale of 73 thousand 34 tons of dried apricots.
In Malatya, one of the provinces most affected by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes in Pazarcik and Elbistan, the export of apricots, one of the city’s most important income sources, continues.
In the 10 months of the export season that started in August 2022, 73 thousand 34 tons of dried apricots were sent to 110 countries, including the USA, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Russia, Israel, Italy, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Canada and Egypt.
In the same period of the previous export season from Malatya, where most of the world’s dried apricot production was carried out, $339 million 952 thousand of foreign currency inflow was provided against 74 thousand 599 tons of dried apricot exports.
Malatya Commodity Exchange Chairman Ramazan Ozcan told Anadolu Agency (AA) that dried apricot exports continue uninterrupted.
Ozcan stated that they left 10 months behind in the new export season that started on August 1, 2022, and that they had a successful period despite the earthquake and all the negativities in this process.
“Despite the earthquake we experienced in February, we did not slow down in exports. While we were healing our wounds quickly, we continued our exports.” Ozcan said:
“In the first 10 months of the export season, we exported 73 thousand 34 tons of dried apricots and generated an income of $390 million. There is a significant increase in revenues while maintaining the export amount compared to last year. We plan to close this year with 85 thousand tons of exports and income over $450 million. As the improvements in the earthquake zones continue, our personnel employment increases and this is reflected in our export figures as we increase. We plan to close this year with 85 thousand tons of exports and $450 million in revenue.”
“We foresee an increase of $50 million”
Ramazan Ozcan stated that they always continue to export by setting a target, and said:
“We actually achieved our target of 100 thousand tons of exports and $500 million in revenue last year. In other words, when we look at our exports of dried apricots, seeds and fresh apricots, we closed last year very successfully. We foresee an increase of $50 million from our export revenues this year. However, if we evaluate both the quantity and the export of seeds and fresh apricots in total, we are now targeting 100 thousand tons of exports and $750 million revenues. We will continue 2023-2024 with this goal.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz