While many countries in global food exports closed 2020 with a loss, Turkey’s exports in food, which was one of the star sectors last year, amounted to $18.55 billion in 11 months.
Turkey’s food exports are expected to exceed $20 billion annually in 2020 for the first time.
While the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic negatively affected some sectors, it caused some to stand out. Especially during the period when restrictions and curfews were imposed, food consumption increased and consumers’ interest in household food products increased significantly.
During the epidemic process, there were problems in the food production and supply chain in many parts of the world. Turkey, on the other hand, showed a serious performance in this field and survived the process without any loss.
While many countries closed the year with losses in global food exports, the sectors that shine in Turkey’s 2020 exports came from the food sector. Thanks to the measures taken in production and supply and the success of Turkish companies, a successful year has been left behind both in the domestic market and in exports.
Especially the cereals, legumes, fresh fruit-vegetables, and fruit-vegetable products sectors closed 2020 with an export record. Most of the sectors that closed the year with a surplus were in the field of agriculture.
With the increasing demand, there were positive developments in food product exports. Exports of food products, from pasta to fruit juice, from legumes to vegetables and fruits, from processed meat to eggs, increased by 4% in January-November 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year and reached $18.55 billion.
The sector, which had a current surplus of $4.26 billion in the said period, also increased its export value per ton to $1.018 for the first time exceeding $1.000.
“Food industry keeps its scenario ready for all kinds of crisis”
Turkish Food and Beverage Industry Associations Federation (TGDF) Secretary General Ilknur Menlik told Anadolu Agency (AA) that food and beverages are the most prepared sector against epidemics and similar crises.
Menlik stated that the sector is ready for any crisis that may arise from primary production and the end consumer due to food security, and said, “Crises are always on the agenda of the food sector. There was a social distance that the sector did not know. They overcame this by dividing the employees into shifts. We were no strangers to masks and hygiene. For this reason, it was not difficult for the industry to adapt to the coronavirus epidemic.”
Menlik, emphasizing that it is not possible for food factories to interrupt production such as durable consumer goods, “Food businesses are not a sector that can directly turn off the switch. For example, it takes at least 3 days to stop production in some factories.”
Stating that the continuation of production in the sector can also be handled in terms of social responsibility, Menlik noted that they have serious responsibilities in this regard.
“Sales of household consumption products increased”
Ilknur Menlik said that the epidemic revealed the points that could be disrupted in food production, and that more efficient production could be done by focusing on these deficient aspects over time.
Explaining that some factories were opened throughout the country in the field of food production, especially milk and dairy products in 2020, Menlik stated that these investments were started in previous years and the sector did not experience any employment losses.
Menlik said that during the epidemic, the sales of household consumption products increased, the high demand seen in the period of April-May 2020 returned to normal, and it was very difficult to give a percentage in this area.
“We process the products we supply cheaply and sell more valuable”
TGDF Secretary General Menlik stated that Turkey’s packaged food exports were realized as $18.55 billion in the period January-November 2020 and that the export made in 2019 was $19.76 billion.
Noting that there is a slight decrease in Turkey’s import rate, but an increase in exports, Menlik said that they expect at least $20 billion in exports throughout 2020, this will be a record.
Menlik stated that Turkey’s export value per ton has exceeded $1,000 for the first time in the last 5 years and there has been a decline in the import value.
Menlik said that last year, the highest export came from sugar and sugar products and that the highest current surplus was given in this field.
- The export value per ton of the sector, which has a current account surplus of $4.26 billion, exceeded $1.000 for the first time in the last 5 years and rose to $1.018.
- TGDF Secretary General Ilknur Menlik:
- “Food and beverage is the sector most prepared against epidemics and similar crises. Crises are always on the agenda of the food sector.”
- “We expect at least $20 billion in exports throughout 2020. This will be a record.”
- “While our export and export value increase, our import and import value decrease.”
Source: AA / Translated by Bazaar Times Team