The two-month export of the Western Mediterranean, which includes Antalya, Isparta and Burdur, was $428 million 150 thousand 108.
Umit Mirza Cavusoglu, President of the Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association, stated that exports from the region amounted to $214 million 82 thousand 609 in February. Stating that there was an increase of 3.19% in international sales in the two-month period compared to last year, Cavusoglu stated that January and February exports were recorded as $428 million 150 thousand 108.
Stating that the locomotive of the region’s exports, both in February and in the two-month period, is the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, Cavusoglu said:
The fresh fruit and vegetable sector, which increased its exports by 47.24% in the same period this year compared to February of last year, became the sector that realized the most exports from the Western Mediterranean with $96 million 765 thousand 470. Mining and metals were in the second place, wood products and forest products were in the third place, chemistry was in the fourth place, and cement, glass ceramics and soil products were in the fifth place. In the two-month period, fresh vegetables and fruits, minerals and metals, wood products, chemical materials and products, and cereals, pulses, oil seeds and products sectors were in the top 5, respectively.”
Export to 144 countries and regions from 1375 companies in the Western Mediterranean
Cavusoglu stated that on the basis of countries where foreign sales were made, the highest export was to Germany with $16 million 814 thousand 124 in February. Cavusoglu said Germany was followed by Russia with $16 million 366 thousand, Poland with $14 million 3 thousand 790, Ukraine with $11 million 855 thousand and Romania with $11 million 789 thousand. He stated that there was a significant increase in exports to Poland, Germany and Russia.
Noting that the highest export was made to Russia with $40 million 885 thousand 151 compared to January and February, Cavusoglu stated that Russia was followed by Germany, China, Ukraine and Romania.
Explaining that 1375 companies from the Western Mediterranean export to 144 countries and regions, Cavusoglu said, “Our Association continues its efforts to increase the exports of the region even more. We organized a trade delegation to the United Arab Emirates in the marble sector with our companies. We participated in fresh fruit and vegetable fairs in Germany and natural stone fairs in India. In addition, we organized a simultaneous sectoral trade delegation to the fair in India, enabling our companies to hold business meetings.”
Restriction of tomato exports
On the other hand, reminding that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry decided to restrict tomato exports due to price increases, Cavusoglu stated that it would not be possible for export restrictions to ensure price stability. Stating that only a very small part of the tomatoes produced in Turkiye is exported, Cavusoglu said:
“If more than half of the production was exported at rates such as 70%, 80%, we could talk about the deterioration of price stability. But unfortunately, exports are not even 5% of production. The issue that causes prices to increase in tomatoes and all other food products is the increase in input costs. The increase in foreign currency that has started in recent years and the rapid increase in the costs of all raw materials and other inputs in the world have increased the price of not only tomatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits, but also all products produced in our country from A to Z. The restriction imposed for approximately 40-45 days will cause permanent damage to the markets obtained with great effort.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz