The Western Mediterranean Exporters Association (BAIB), which includes Antalya, Isparta and Burdur, carried out $850 million of the approximately $3.5 billion of fresh fruit and vegetable exports in Turkiye last year.
Western Mediterranean exporters, who increased their exports by 4.4% to $2 billion 674 million last year, made record sales in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector.
BAIB Chairman of the Board of Directors Umit Mirza Cavusoglu told the AA correspondent that they managed to increase exports as a region despite the economic contraction in the world and the wars and conflicts in neighboring countries.
Stating that, as a union, they achieved sales above Turkiye’s average, Cavusoglu said:
“We reached a figure above our expectations. We were aiming to maintain the current figures at the beginning of 2023. Because the markets we focus on are developed countries and there is a serious recession in these countries. In the face of this economic contraction, our exporters made serious strides with great devotion and achieved the increase. The 4.4% increase was very serious under these conditions. Our union, which includes Antalya, Isparta and Burdur, broke an export record.”
Emphasizing that nearly 2,700 exporters in the region are making intense efforts to provide foreign currency inflow to the country, Cavusoglu noted that they exported $2 billion 674 million last year.
Western Mediterranean is the leader in fresh vegetables and fruits
Pointing out that the locomotive sector of the region is fresh vegetables and fruits, and that, as a region, they meet both Turkiye’s needs and foreign demands, Cavusoglu continued as follows:
“We broke a historical record in fresh vegetables and fruits in 2023, well above our expectations, we achieved an increase of over 27% compared to the previous year, which we did not expect such a large increase. We had an increase both in quantity and numerically. We had an export of approximately $850 million. Exports made on behalf of our union in fresh vegetables and fruits constitute 25% of Turkiye’s total. This is really pleasing for us.”
Cavusoglu reminded that Turkiye’s fresh vegetable and fruit exports are approximately $3.5 billion.
Cavusoglu stated that tomatoes and peppers constitute the majority of exports in fresh vegetables and fruits and said, “We are by far ahead in Turkiye in tomatoes and peppers. Tomatoes and peppers constitute 50% of the region’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports. We have exports of approximately $250 million in tomatoes and $200 million in peppers.”
Stating that they mainly send tomatoes and peppers to European countries and Germany ranks first, Cavusoglu said that serious sales were also made to Russia and Ukraine.
BAIB President Cavusoglu noted that they are aiming for a billion dollar export in fresh vegetables and fruits this year.
The 2024 target for regional exports is to exceed $2 billion 800 million
Stating that 2023 is a difficult year for exporters and that this year will also pass with the same difficulties, Cavusoglu stated that they will continue both trade delegation visits and URGE studies in order to maintain export figures in current markets and enter different markets.
Cavusoglu pointed out that regional exporters wrote a success story in 2023 and that this story will continue this year, and said that they are targeting an export of over $2 billion 800 million for this year.
In this regard, Cavusoglu stated that they are planning trade delegation visits to 7-8 countries in the first 6 months, and added that they will go to Europe and distant countries in the food, wood-forest, mining and cosmetics sectors.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz