Turkish exports of fruits and vegetables increased in February despite Russia.

After a disappointing start of the year, with a significant drop in exports of fruits and vegetables in January, statistics from February 2016, published by the National Council of Exporters (TIM) shows an increase in exports of fruits, citrus and of all vegetables by 12 percent in volume and 3 percent in value compared to February 2015.

Citrus represent 55 percent of the total export and increased by 11 percent to around 162 000 tonnes. The easy peelers are featured, with + 61% and pomelos also with + 46%.

Vegetables account for 34 percent of the total export which increased by 21 percent to just under 95 000 tonnes. However, their value fell by 2 percent. 62 percent of exported vegetables are tomatoes, whose export increased by one third in quantity but whose value dropped by 11 percent. The second most exported vegetable is pepper (33% in quantity and 42% in value), followed by the zucchini (+ 42% in quantity and 16% in value).

Fruit is the sector whose export has decreased (- 6% in quantity and - 4% in value). Pomegranate is the first fruit exported with the share of 74 percent of exported fruit in February and an increase of 39 percent in quantity compared to February 2015. This is a fruit whose importation is not banned in Russia, which may explain this figure. By cons, apple exports fell by 70 percent, strawberries by 64 percent and grapes by 60 percent.

Iraq has delighted in first place in importing countries to Russia, which despite 56 percent fewer exports, remains in 2nd place, followed by far by Romania, Belarus and Ukraine. The first European importer countries, Germany, is only ranked 6th, representing 5% of total exports. Note the large increases in exports to countries such as Belarus (916%), Ukraine (185%), Saudi Arabia (+ 118%), Georgia and Poland (+ 137%) and, among European importers, the Netherlands (116%) and Belgium (+ 159%).

Source : www.akib.com.tr