THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
The Mediterranean Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association (AHBİB) demonstrated a strong and balanced performance in 2025, achieving 1.88 billion dollars in exports despite increasing global uncertainties, high input costs, and geopolitical risks.
AHBİB Chairman Veysel Memiş emphasized that the 2025 export figures clearly show the sector moving away from classic commodity exports towards a more resilient structure based on processed, branded and value-added products. “The resulting picture is a concrete indicator of a sector structure that can manage crises, deepen its presence in the market and prioritize value-added production,” he said.
“Red lentils maintained their leading position among all product groups”
Evaluating the region’s exports by product groups in the January-December 2025 period, he explained, “Legume varieties ranked first with an export value of 423 million dollars, accounting for 23 percent of the total sector. Meanwhile, red lentils maintained their leading position among all product groups with a value of 297.4 million dollars and a 16 percent share. Our quality, supply continuity and logistical advantages have made red lentils a competitive product in the global market.”
Pointing out that that AHBİB demonstrated a stable and value-added focused performance in pastry product exports, reaching a value of 384.7 million dollars with a 4 percent increase in this product group, he noted, “Pastry products account for 21 percent of the total exports in the region. In addition, pastry products are one of the clearest indicators of our transition from commodity-based exports to value-added food exports. The 2025 figures show that our production capacity and brand strength in this area have become permanent.”
“In vegetable oils, which constitute the third largest pillar of the sector, they achieved a 30 percent spike in 2025, reaching a value of 222.5 million dollars despite fluctuating commodity prices. This spike in vegetable oils is a concrete result of moving away from raw material-based trade towards processed, branded and value-added products. On the other hand, vegetable oils have become one of the most strategic and resilient areas of our exports in 2025. We have achieved value-based growth despite fluctuating commodity prices. This is an extremely valuable achievement for our sector,” he added.
“In sunflower seed oil, the leading product of the vegetable oils group, we achieved 99.9 million dollars in exports in 2025, registering a 21 percent spike compared to the previous year and soybean oil and its fractions reached a value of 88.1 million dollars, achieving a 46 percent spike on an annual basis,” he concluded…
