According to the Aegean Exporters' Association's data, in 2018 Turkey exported 2 billion 325 million USD worth of fresh fruits and vegetables. Among these, 18 million 58 thousand USD worth of fresh fruits and vegetables were transported by Turkish Cargo.
The deal made with Turkish Airlines' air freight company Turkish Cargo in May 2017 allowed the increase in fresh fruits and vegetables exports. In 2017, 6 thousand 215 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables were exported by air freight in return of 10 million 522 thousand USD.
In 2018, the exports value increased by 71% compared to 2017. 6 thousand 691 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables were exported by air freight in return of 18 million 58 thousand USD. Most of the air freight exports were destined to Hong Kong with 3 million 202 thousand USD. This was followed by Norway with 2 million 229 thousand USD and Singapore with 1 million 344 thousand USD.
Cherry ranked first in air freight exports
Cherries topped air freight exports with 6 million 502 thousand USD. This was followed by mushrooms. 201 tons 906 kilos of morel, chanterelle and truffle mushrooms were exported in return of 4 million 328 thousand USD. Exports price of mushrooms was as high as 21 USD per kilo.
Mushrooms were followed by figs with 2 million 387 thousand USD.
The goal is 20 million USD
Hayrettin Ucak, the chairman of Aegean Fresh Fruits and Exporters' Association explained that summer fruits ripened late in the season due to weather conditions this year.
Ucak said that the season started with cherry exports and that they will continue with the harvest of other fruits.
Emphasizing that air freight is an opportunity for exporters who wish to introduce their products quickly to the market, Ucak said: "Our exporters have started to get used to air freight. We aim to increase from 18 million USD to 20 million USD. In the coming years, we aim to transport 10% of our fresh fruits and vegetables exports by air freight."
Source: Bloomberg