The record export of fruit and vegetables from Turkey in 2018 could not be met last year. Several important products' crops failed. Some unstable countries are also counted among Turkey's buyers.
In general, there was quite a lot of annual fluctuation in the amounts Turkey sells to various countries. A total of 3,9 million tons of vegetables were exported in 2019. In the 2018 record year, this was 4,25 million tons. Last year's export volumes were, however, still larger than those of the years before 2018.
Russia has been a fairly stable buyer in recent years, but there is a lot of fluctuation in sales to other countries
The Turkish export of fruit and vegetables relies heavily on steady sales to Russia. In the last three years, however, trade to the Middle East and EU have not been going well. In 2019, as in both previous years, Turkey could sell more than a million tons of fruit and vegetables to Russia.
Before the Russian boycott of many Turkish goods in 2016, quite a lot more was, however, traded in Russia. In the Middle East, exports to especially Iraq and Saudi Arabia fell sharply last year. In the EU, 2019 sales to Romania, Poland, and the Netherlands were dismal.
It does seem there was a considerable increase in Turkish exports to India in the past year. This concerned mainly onions - 36,000 tons were sent to India - and 28,000 tons of apples.
Mandarins are Turkey's most important export product
Mandarins are a crucial export product for Turkey. Last year, a record amount of 753,000 tons of this fruit could be exported. Tomatoes were the second most exported product in 2019. Turkey exported a volume of 535,000 tons of this product last year.
That, too, is a record amount. The export of a third product, lemons, however, declined significantly in 2019. It dropped to 473,000 tons versus massive exports of 627,000 tons in 2018.
Following these big three were apples, oranges, onions, and grapes. Included in the smaller export products were several growers, such as figs, cherries, courgettes, watermelon, and strawberries.
Less to the EU
In the past year, Turkey exported 730,000 tons of fruit and vegetables to the EU. Of this, 37,500 tons went to the Netherlands. That is, respectively, 12 and 27% lower than in 2018.
The export of particularly lemons to the EU decreased considerably. That means tomatoes were the most important Turkish export product to the EU. Lemons were, however, still in second place. Bell peppers and grapefruit were at three and four.
Both these citrus products export volumes fell sharply. In contrast, the export of mandarins grew nicely. Other Turkish growth products in the EU market were cherries, onions, watermelon, and cucumbers.
Far less to the Netherlands
In the EU, Romania was Turkey's most important buyer. This country was followed by Germany and Bulgaria. Turkish fruit and vegetable exports to the Netherlands declined last year. The dropped to 37,500 tons versus 52,500 tons in 2018.
For Turkish exports to the Netherlands, bell peppers were the most important product. These were closely followed by tomatoes and grapefruit. Turkish lemon exports to the Netherlands dropped from 6,100 tons in 2018 to not even 1,400 tons last year.
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For more information:
Jan Kees Boon
Fruit and Vegetable Facts
Tel: +31 (0) 654 687 684
Email: fruitvegfacts@gmail.com
Website: www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com