Türkiye Citrus Exports Rise in Value by 12% YoY Despite Difficult Production Season 2022/23

Published 2023년 5월 12일

Turkish citrus exports totaled USD 351.85M in Q1 2023, an increase of 12.22% YoY, according to the Mediterranean Exporters' Association. According to the same source, Turkiye exported 603,488 MT of citrus fruit during the same period, almost a 24% YoY decline. In the first quarter of 2023, Russia was the most important trade partner, with USD 149M in citrus fruit sent from Turkiye, followed by Ukraine with USD 33M. Adverse weather conditions, lower acreage of oranges in 2022, and earthquake damage in 2023 significantly affected the export volume of citrus fruit exports until Q1 of 2023. Oranges recorded the most substantial downfall in terms of value with a 70% YoY decrease in Q1 of 2023, down to USD 26.3M.

Türkiye citrus exports reached USD 351.85M in Q1 of 2023, with an increase of 12.22% YoY, according to the Mediterranean Exporters' Association data. Regarding volume, according to the same source, Turkiye exported 603,488 MT of citrus fruit in the same period. Compared to last year, export volume is down 23.79% YoY. In Q1 of 2023, Russia dominated in the first place as the most important trade partner, with USD 149M of exported citrus fruit from Turkiye, with Ukraine far behind with USD 33M. The most exported citrus products were mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, and orange.

Source: Tridge and TradeMap

Russia led the way with USD 149M in exports of citrus value, followed by Ukraine (USD 33M), Poland (USD 25M), Romania (USD 15M), and Bulgaria (USD 12M). In terms of volume, only Iraq and Poland marked increased results, with 8.18% and 19.63% YoY up to 443,235 MT and 64,615 MT in 2022, respectively.

The main reason for low export figures in volume is decreased production, especially oranges, estimated at 1.4M MT in 2023, an 20% YoY decline. Adverse weather and the lower acreage in 2022, which decreased by 4.12% YoY to 48,176 ha, also contributed to overall negative results. In February 2023, an earthquake hit Turkiye causing damages in provinces Malatya, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, and Hatay, crucial for Turkish fruit cultivation. Hatay, among others, is important for olive and citrus production.

The season of the last and late orange variety, Valencia, started in Türkiye in W10 of 2023. According to Ilgim Uygun Tridge Origination Manager in Turkiye, it consisted of medium to small-size fruits. The export price was USD 0.7/kg EXW. However, since the export demand was low, it was primarily sold to the domestic market for juice and fresh consumption. Based on Tridge insights, the short export season and high prices marked the citrus campaign. Türkiye government recognized problems in the citrus sector and included incentives for the export of products such as lemon, grapefruit, jaffa, tangerine, Washington, Valencia oranges, and citrus concentrate, and incentives to be given to citrus concentrate to be sold to the domestic market. The incentives to be paid to the exporter vary between TRY 120 and TRY 500 depending on the type of citrus product, whether it comes out of the garden or is packaged in a cardboard box/ plastic case, and whether it will be exported to Turkiye, the EU, and 3rd world countries.

Although there is a decline in volume, traders are satisfied with the value of exported citrus in Q1 of 2023. Still, traders have high hopes based on actions taken by the government to repair earthquake damage and diversify export markets, especially to the Far East. Government authorities will attempt to open new markets such as India, China, East Asia, South Korea, and the US in the upcoming period.