According to the data of Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, Turkey’s export during eid qurban is decreased by 5.8 percent compared to last year and is valued at 15 billion 12 million dollars; this decrease was because of the workday difference between 2019 and 2020 feasts. Turkish export in the last 12 months is valued at 166.6 billion dollars and it is decreased by 7.9 percent. Conversely, Turkish export reached the highest monthly numbers in July, during the pandemic; July export is increased by 11.5 compared to June.
Comparing the first 7 months of 2019 and 2020; mining sector export is decreased by 11.3 percent and valued at 2 billion 223 million 67 thousand dollars, industry sector export is also decreased by 16.3 percent and valued at 67 billion 319 million 767 thousand dollars while agriculture sector export is increased by 3.9 percent and valued at 13 billion 236 million 436 thousand dollars.
When we have an internal look of agricultural export; we see that the exports of legumes, cereal and oily seeds increased by 1.2 percent and valued at 4 billion 63 million 734 thousand dollars, the exports of raw vegetables and fruits are increased by 24.4 percent and valued at 1 billion 364 million 610 dollars while fruits and vegetables products exports are increased by 5.7 percent and valued at 901 million 736 thousand dollars. Conversely, dried fruits and their products exports are decreased by 4.4 percent and valued at 694 million 740 thousand dollars.
Hazelnut had the most increase in export
In a proportional base, the most export increase is seen in hazelnut sector; hazelnut and it’s products exports are increased by 27.9 percent and valued at 1 billion 137 million 929 thousand dollars in the first 7 months of 2020.
Comparing the first 7 months of 2019 and 2020; olive and olive oil exports are decreased by 8.4 percent and valued at 159 million 943 thousand dollars, tobacco export is decreased by 2.9 percent and valued at 500 million 978 thousand dollars, decoration plants and their products exports are decreased by 9.8 percent and valued at 62 million 106 thousand dollars, water and animal products exports are decreased by 10.1 percent and valued at 1 billion 347 million 681 thousand dollars and lastly furniture, paper and forestry products exports are decreased by 3.9 percent and valued at 2 million 981 thousand dollars.
‘’Turkey will maintain it’s hazelnut export leadership also in the future.’’
Ali Haydar Goren, the board chairman of Istanbul Hazelnut and Hazelnut Products Exporters Association (IFMIB) stated that hazelnut sector export has had no negativity during the pandemic period, even has become one of the sectors that exported the most.
Goren emphasized that IFMIB took the measures of foreign trade logistics and supply chain at the right time within the pandemic period. In this sense, the ‘’contactless trade’’ operation and other alternative solutions that are applied as measures have been successful. He said:
‘’ The most important reason of the increase in staple food export is the basic physiological necessity of humans which is food.
Turkey is the biggest producer and exporter of hazelnut and hazelnut products globally and will maintain it’s hazelnut export leadership also in the future. This year, nearly 330-340 tons of hazelnut kernels are exported, this is an all time quantity based export record; we estimate that the value of this export will be nearly 2.3 billion dollars. ‘’
‘’Export may increase more in the upcoming days.’’
Muhsin Cakici the board chairman of Istanbul Dried Fruits and Dried Fruit Products Exporters Association also stated that agriculture products are the first necessities for human nutrition; that is why, main staple food exports are increased during the pandemic. Cakici said:
‘’Export may increase more in the upcoming days with the beginning of the harvest season and the increase in the production capacity. If we meet the EU legislation immediately, our various advantages such as proximity, width and variety of production facilities, climate and soil variety, and substructure appropriate to natural-organic production will make Turkey more active and preferable in the EU market.”
Cakici also emphasized that they are expecting 20 percent increase in the raw fruits and their products export this year.
‘’We get product demands from many countries that we have never exported to before.’’
Mujdat Sezer, the board chairman of Istanbul Water and Animal Products Exporters Association said:
‘’Some countries could not meet their import demands from their supplying countries due to pandemic and this situation put Turkey into the limelight. We get product demands from many countries that we have never exported to before.
Global import value of water and animal products is 420 billion dollars and we exported to EU countries 200 billion dollars worth products; EU is one of the leading target markets for Turkey’s water and animal products sector due to high demand, proximity and logistic convenience.’’
Melisa Tokgoz Mutlu, the board chairman of Istanbul Raw Vegetables and Fruits Exporters Association also emphasized the importance of agricultural sector for human survival and said:
‘’The demand for raw vegetables and fruits is globally increased while consumption habits regarding these products are changed. Exporters, farmers and facilities worked nonstop during the pandemic; this uninterrupted work provided an advantage for Turkey in the foreign market.
After the pandemic hit, countries learned that they should have worked with multiple suppliers; this situation increased the value of the countries making agriculture production, like Turkey. Turkey had no problem in vegetable-fruit production by comparison to other countries during the pandemic period, since we can supply our own raw materials; this convenience is of course, reflected on export. We are expecting 25-30 percent of increase in raw vegetable and fruit export by the end of the year.’’
Mutlu stated that Turkey’s increasing value as an agricultural country will improve it’s export in parallel; this process should be managed with good advertisement in order to create a good perspective.
source: AA / translated by Bazaar Team