After the Turkish elections, the lira went into free fall. The currency has lost as much as 20% of its value against the euro. However, that has not impacted Verita Holland, which exports exotics from the Netherlands to Türkiye. "It's inexplicable; our sales are only increasing," Muhammet Cakir says.
"The exchange rate has fluctuated to the Turkish lira's detriment since 2013. The elections in Turkey even seem to have underpinned that. Usually, when there's a rate decline, exports slow for the first few weeks before the market returns to its normal pattern. But that's not happened."
Muhammet says that could be because the exchange rate hardly affects their client base. "The products we carry, with their high import duties, are too expensive for the average Joe. The people we appeal to in Turkey tend to be more affluent, and, thus, the exchange rate doesn't impact their spending patterns as much," he explains.
Verita Holland exports products like mangos, avocadoes, limes, blackberries, passion fruit, pitahaya, and physalis to Turkey. "Avocados and blueberries are the biggest risers. Avocado production is rising in Turkey. Avocado trees come back into production in July and are fed until mid-December. However, that production isn't yet enough to supply the entire local market. Cultivating locally has the added advantage of the product becoming better known, which increases off-season demand as well."
"Currently, it's almost impossible to find green avocados on the market. The Peruvian season is winding down, and volumes from South Africa and Kenya are minimal," explains Muhammet. "We export directly from Kenya to Turkey. We also carry Hass avocados, which were super expensive just a few weeks ago. Our share of other products increasingly being grown in Turkey is decreasing somewhat. Think of pitahaya, passion fruit, and papaya. Kiwi, grape, and apple exports, too, are declining because of expanding local productions."
"Other products, such as pineapple, which Türkiye can't cultivate, keep doing well. We ship pineapples directly from Costa Rica to Türkiye. Trading is a little quieter at the moment, but that mainly has to do with next week's Feast of Sacrifice," concludes Muhammet. The Verita Group in Türkiye also increasingly focuses on exports to markets including Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia.
For more information:
Muhammet Cakir
Verita Holland
35 Handelsweg
2988 DB, Ridderkerk, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 180 615 750
Email: info@veritaholland.nl
Website: www.veritaholland.nl