Opinion

Sweet Export Season for Turkish Dried Figs with 28% Increase in Value

Dried Fig
Turkiye
Published Oct 31, 2022
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Turkish dried figs completed the 2021/22 season with 71 thousand MT in exports worth USD 258M in export value for a 28% YoY increase. After the increase, Türkiye now accounts for 60% of the share in world exports of dried figs as the largest exporter. Despite the relentless rise in inflation, rising input prices, and logistics disruptions, Turkish dried figs were able to reach 102 markets this season, gaining growth in each of the main markets. Dried figs are an essential part of the dried fruit industry in Türkiye, which aims to generate USD 1B in exports at the end of the year.

According to the Association of Exporters of the Aegean Region of Turkey (EIB), 70.7 thousand mt of dried figs were sold in the 2021/22 season, which ended in Oct-22. The income of Turkish producers from the sale of dried figs during the export season amounted to USD 258 million, a 28% YoY increase from the USD 201 million in the previous season. The successful export season comes after Turkish exporters have grown their main markets and opened new ones. According to the EIB, today, Turkey's share in world exports of dried figs accounts for 60%.

For an overview of the season, Ferhat Erdem, Tridge’s Origination Manager, shared a few insights about the market growth that dried fig exports are having. The European market remains the leading trade partner, with USD 134 million accounting for 51% of the export share, while exports to the Americas amounted to USD 53 million, with an increase of 2.3%. He also mentioned that the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern markets are the ones with the most substantial growth potential. The Asia-Pacific region closed the season with USD 30 million for a 5.6% YoY increase, and Middle Eastern countries accounted for USD 17 million for a 19% YoY increase.

It is expected that the yield and quality of dried figs will be high in the 2022/2023 season, and the expected export volume is around 75 thousand mt”, Mr. Erdem explained. Furthermore, he added, “as the dried fruit sector aims to bring in over USD 1 billion of foreign currency to Turkey at the end of the season, dried fruit producers are now receiving financial support that has allowed them to keep increasing their production despite various operational challenges due to inflation.

According to Aegean Exporters' Associations, in the 2021/22 season, Turkey exported USD 835 million of dried apricots, raisins, and dried figs, with an increase of 10% YoY. For the 2022/23 season, dried fruit exports are projected to grow more substantially and even reach USD 1 billion. Dried apricot exports are projected to increase by 30% to USD 340 million, and seedless raisin exports to increase by 2% to USD 320 million.

In the case of dried fig exports, the growth over the last two years has been consistent. While in the 2020/21 season, exports accounted for USD 201 million, the 28% YoY increase over the 2022/23 season has made the dried fruit industry believe that the USD 1 billion goal is achievable.

If harvest goes as expected for the new season, dried fig exports will likely reach the projected volume of 75 thousand mt. However, it is estimated that exports could reach USD 300 million in value, which will be determined by the volatile prices of the market. 

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