Türkiye Fresh Peaches and Nectarines Exports Are Expanding Driven by High Prices in the past Seasons

Published 2023년 5월 31일

Fresh peach and nectarine production is increasing due to favorable meteorological conditions, acceptable farm gate prices, and government assistance. Türkiye is responsible for 3% of global peach production and is predicted to produce 800,000 MT of peaches and nectarines this year. Türkiye’s peach and nectarine exports have increased steadily over the last five years, with Russia being the top destination. Traders are looking east to increase their market share in Far Eastern countries. Over the previous decade, production modernization and government subsidies have enabled a 30% rise in yield. So far in 2023, the average wholesale price for fresh peaches was USD 1.19/kg, higher than the previous year. Tridge anticipates that peach and nectarine exports will continue to expand.

Turkish early stone varieties entered the harvest period at the end of April 2023. Considering the abundance of peaches, nectarines, and apricot flowers in W10, 2023 is expected to be a year in which the stone fruit products will be more productive than in 2022, according to Ilgim Uygun, Tridge Origination Manager in Türkiye. Overall, Turkish fruit and vegetable exports reached USD 2.5B in 2022, an increase of 25% YoY, whereas the total exports of fresh fruits and vegetables, including its added value products (processed, dried, frozen, and others), reached USD 5.5B. Fresh peach and nectarine production in Türkiye is expanding, mainly due to adequate climatic factors, reasonable farm gate prices, and government support.

Türkiye accounts for around 3% of total global peach production and it is expected to achieve an 800,000 MT volume of peaches and nectarines this year. The western and Mediterranean regions are the most rapidly developing, while the production is concentrated in the coastal provinces of Bursa, Çanakkale, Izmir, and Mersin. Due to new investments, crop area for peach production is gradually increasing. Typical peach and nectarine harvest season starts in May and lasts until early October. This variation is because peach trees can be grown in many locations in Türkiye due to different physical and climatic conditions. Early Amber, Spring Crest, May Crest, Red Haven, Cardinal, J.H.Hale, and Early Red are Turkey's most common peach varieties.

Source: Tridge and TradeMap

Peaches and nectarines export has seen constant growth in the past five years. In terms of value, peach exports accumulated USD 94.45M in 2022, a 21.12% YoY improvement. Although Türkiye exports fresh peaches and nectarines to various countries, Russia is by far the dominant export destination, with 153,352 MT delivered in 2022, a 29.50% YoY increase. Besides standard customers, like Russia and EU countries, some traders are looking to the East, hoping to enhance market share in Far Eastern countries, like Singapore and Hong Kong, mainly due to low competition and increased demand from these countries.

Part of the Türkiye peach and nectarine success lies in the modernization of production and government subsidies. Peach and nectarine growers have been enhancing orchards by replacing older types with newer high-yield varieties, resulting in a 30% increase in yield over the last decade. Growers have also started adopting high-density plants, new cultivars and rootstocks, and sophisticated tree training systems. These developments have been aided in part by government initiatives that assist with various costs like gasoline, fertilizer, and seedlings.

In W5 of May 2023, the average wholesale price of fresh peaches in Türkiye was USD 1.19/kg, based on Tridge price entries, higher than last year, but satisfactory enough for Turkish traders taking into account increased input and transport costs. Given the current production situation and stable demand, Tridge predicts further growth of peach and nectarine exports, both in volume and value.