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Türkiye’s fresh fruit exports exceeded the $1 billion mark for the first time in the January-July period, supported by higher yields, improved quality and rising demand from European markets.
Favorable weather conditions and rainfall in Türkiye, one of the region’s major agricultural producers, increased yield and quality in many fresh fruit varieties.
The high yield allowed exporters to meet demand from foreign markets with regular and high-quality products.
Türkiye’s proximity to European markets also gave exporters a logistical advantage, helping them deliver products quickly while preserving freshness.
Timely delivery and product quality increased European customers’ interest in Turkish fresh fruit.
According to information compiled by Anadolu Agency from the data of Aegean Exporters’ Associations, Türkiye’s fresh fruit exports increased 59% in the January-July period compared with the same period last year, rising from $631.6 million to $1.005 billion.
The sector exceeded the $1 billion export mark for the first time in a seven-month period.
Türkiye sent 512,011 tons of fresh fruit to foreign markets during the period, with strong increases recorded particularly in major European markets.
Germany maintained its position as the leading European destination for Turkish fresh fruit exports as shipments surged 80% to reach $113.9 million, up from $63.4 million during the comparative period.
Spain registered one of the sharpest proportional increases, with exports soaring 318% from $1.7 million to $7.2 million. Poland also emerged as a rapidly expanding market, seeing shipments climb 295% from $9.3 million to $37 million, while exports to Italy advanced 203% to $6.1 million.
Gains remained steady across other major European destinations. Shipments to the Netherlands rose 53% to $12.5 million, exports to Latvia grew 44% to $4.3 million, and trade with the United Kingdom increased 19% to reach $20.5 million.
Hayrettin Ucak, head of the Türkiye Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Associations Sector Board, told Anadolu Agency that the productive season had pleased both producers and exporters.
Ucak said significant increases were recorded in revenues from products such as cherries, nectarines, peaches and apricots.
He said the rise in exports brought more foreign currency inflows to Türkiye.
Ucak described exports as one of the indispensable elements of the Turkish economy. “Our agricultural products are truly in serious demand in the countries to which they are exported,” Ucak said.
“The continuous demand for our products because of their quality, taste and aroma increases our export growth,” he said.
“In the first seven months, our exports rose from $631 million to $1 billion. This situation pleases our exporters and producers,” he added.
Ucak said the figure marked the highest level of all time on a seven-month basis.
He noted that the sector exported $631.6 million in the same period last year and had previously reached its highest seven-month level in 2024 with $816.8 million.
Ucak said the sharp increases in European countries had pleased the sector.
He said stone fruits were seriously affected by agricultural frost last year, but this year’s yield and quality were strong.
“This year, both our yield and our quality are truly very good,” Ucak said. “Our producers grew them with very serious effort. As exporters, we carried out this export thanks to them.”
He said Turkish fresh fruit exports multiplied in the Spanish, Italian and Polish markets.
Ucak also underlined the importance of timely delivery in European trade.
“When you sell a product to a trader, fulfilling the promises made is considered very important, especially by Europeans,” he said.
“They give a schedule down to the hour, not just the delivery day, saying, ‘My vehicle will arrive on this date at this hour.’ If that vehicle does not go at that hour, they do not do business with that company again,” he added.
“We also paid great attention to these issues and tried to fulfill the promises we made. Here, our exporters had a major responsibility, and they achieved both this task and this success,” Ucak said.
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