87 thousand 121 tons of dried apricots were exported to 115 countries in the season covering August 1, 2020-July 31, 2021 from Malatya, the “world apricot capital”.
According to Malatya Commodity Exchange data, 96 thousand 400 tons of foreign sales were made in the “Malatya apricot” with geographical indication registered from the European Union in the 2019-2020 season, and a revenue of $252 million was obtained in return.
In the 2020-2021 season, 87 thousand 121 tons of exports were made in apricots, with an income of $291 million 749 thousand.
The country to which dried apricots are exported the most is the USA. 13 thousand 167 tons of apricot exports of $45 million 864 thousand were made to the USA.
This country was followed by Germany with $28 million 654 thousand and France with $25 million 837 thousand.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE STABILITY HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED IN DRIED APRICOT
Ramazan Ozcan, Chairman of Malatya Commodity Exchange, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that there has been a very stable period of dried apricot exports for the last two years.
Emphasizing that the shelf value of apricots has reached $4 billion in the world market, and that Malatya should benefit from this market share at the maximum level, Ozcan said that the city should continue on its way with an export target of $500 million.
Ozcan stated that despite the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic that affected the world last season, apricot exports continued and said:
“Despite the Covid-19 epidemic that swept the world, dried apricot exports made us happy at a time when people’s lives were restricted and they had to stay at home. We left behind a successful season in terms of country and city economy. As of August 1, 2020-July 31, 2021, we contributed $291 million 749 thousand to the country’s economy in return for 87 thousand 121 tons of dried apricot exports. Compared to the previous season, we sold 10 thousand tons less products and generated $30 million more in revenue.”
Noting that the most important thing is to continue the export of dried apricots consistently, Ozcan said, “We will continue on our way with firm steps towards our target of 100 thousand tons of export and $500 million income in a way that will design the market with all kinds of actors.”
Ozcan explained that in the dried fruit group, apricots made the country’s economy smile, and thanked the exporters who sold apricots to 115 countries.
CHINA DESTINATION IN EXPORT
Reminding that the search for new markets continues, Ozcan said that as the Covid-19 restrictions disappear, they will participate in important fairs in the world and seek new markets.
Stating that they will go to the Germany, France fairs and the food fair held in Beijing, Ozcan said, “Our exports to the USA, which is our biggest buyer in the world, made us happy, we exported 13 thousand 167 tons. The first item on our China agenda is that we plan to double our exports to China from last year. The Far East market is a market that is hungry and open to apricots.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz