While the temperatures are expected to increase in Turkey, the increase in dried fruit exports has already started compared to last year. The exports of the Turkish dried fruit and products sector in the first half of the year increased by 10.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 755 million 880 thousand dollars.
According to the data of Southeastern Anatolian Exporters’ Associations (GAİB), the most exported product of the sector was seedless raisins with 208 million 297 thousand dollars. This product was followed by dried apricots with 168 million 370 thousand dollars, pistachios with 111 million 457 thousand dollars and dried figs with 103 million 853 thousand dollars.
Grape Producers Are Waiting for the Price to Be Announced by TMO (Turkish Grain Board)
Stating that the price of raisins should not be below 25 TL, the grape producer in Manisa said, “Last year, we were able to buy 2 liters of diesel with 1 kilogram of grapes. We can get almost only half a liter of diesel this year. If the price of grapes falls below 25 liras this year, we cannot do this business. We couldn’t put fertilizer on the grape anyway, our yield loss is big. While I am gaining 1.200 kilos per acre of this vineyard, I can only gain 500 kilos this year. Diesel, fertilizer and irrigation expenses are too high. We will spend 5 times more for irrigation this year. We cut back on everything so that it wouldn’t cost too much. Therefore, the yield will be low throughout Manisa. We owe banks, our lands are mortgaged. We will not be able to pay our debts,” he said.
Currently, in the stagnant market due to waiting for new crops exporters are offering the same as last week for the 2021 crop at 1.400-1.450 Usd/mt on FOB Izmir basis for type nr.8 and 1.500-1.550 Usd/mt on FOB Izmir basis for type nr.9.
Turkish lira depreciated this week and noted today the Usd/TL rate at 17,54 TL (17,39 last week) and Euro/TL rate at 17,83 TL levels (18,44 last week).
According to Aegean Exporters’ Associations data, between 10.07.2022 and 16.07.2022, Turkey exported 921 tons of seedless raisins with an average price of 1,60 dollars/ton. In the same week of last year, it exported 4.353 tons with an average price of 1,90 dollars/ton. Since the beginning of the season, it has exported 217.875 tons of seedless raisins with an average price of 1,77 dollars/ton.