Tangerines and lemons accounted for $296 million 689 thousand of citrus exports of $351 million 855 thousand from Turkiye in the first quarter of 2023.
According to the information compiled by the AA correspondent from the data of the Mediterranean Exporters’ Association, 603,488 tons of citrus fruits were exported in the January-March period of this year.
In this period, the largest share of $351 million 855 thousand in foreign sales was tangerine and lemon.
In the first quarter, $206 million 856 thousand of foreign exchange inflow was achieved in exchange for 316 thousand 619 tons of tangerine exports, and $89 million 833 thousand in foreign sales of 185 thousand 240 tons of lemons.
In the first quarter of this year, exports increased by 30% in tangerines and 1% in lemons, compared to the same period of the previous year.
In citrus exports, tangerines and lemons were followed by grapefruit with $28 million 644 thousand, and oranges with $26 million 327 thousand.
“There is an established system in citrus exports”
Kemal Kacmaz, Deputy Chairman of the National Citrus Council, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that citrus made a significant contribution to the country’s economy in the first quarter of the year.
Noting that citrus fruits meet approximately 50% of the fresh fruit and vegetable exports, Kacmaz continued:
“When we look at the first quarter of this year, we see that most of the tangerines are exported. This product is followed by lemon and other products. There was a decrease in the product yield this season. There is now an established system in citrus exports. Buyers prefer Turkiye. We will further develop these relationships. Tangerines are in trend right now. There is a consumer trend towards easy-peel fruits. Accordingly, our production tends towards easy-to-peel tangerine types. Cultivation and planting of late and early species takes place rapidly. Therefore, tangerines and lemons will always be in the first place.”
Kacmaz stated that companies exporting citrus were affected by the earthquakes, which are described as the “disaster of the century”, but that they will reach better points in exports after the wounds are healed.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz