THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
Related Articles
Press release…
Türkiye, the world’s second-largest pasta exporter, recorded total pasta exports of 228.5 million dollars in the first quarter of the year. During this period, which saw a 7 percent hike in the value of pasta exports compared to the same period last year, 378,700 tonnes of pasta were exported, representing an 11.5 percent rise in volume. With the average export price standing at 0.60 dollars per kilogramme, Somalia was the top destination, receiving 36.3 million dollars’ worth of pasta. In the first quarter, Iraq ranked second with 22.7 million dollars, whilst 21.5 million dollars’ worth of pasta was exported to Ghana and 15 million dollars’ worth to Japan. Germany and the United States were among the top 10 countries to which the country exported the most pasta during this period.
“We are one of the top five suppliers in leading markets”
Ahmet Tiryakioğlu, Chairman of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM) Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Sector Committee, who highlighted the development of competitive factors in the sector which provides employment for 50,000 people and contributes 2 billion dollars annually to the Turkish economy through domestic and international sales volumes, stated that at the current stage, the fact that we rank among the top five countries supplying pasta to leading markets such as the US, Japan and Germany which account for approximately 30 percent of global pasta imports is the most concrete testament to our production quality.
“Although we account for 25 percent of the global pasta trade by tonnage, the fact that our global market share hovers between 10 and 15 percent by value indicates the key area we must focus on in the coming period. Our sector, which possesses the production flexibility to meet diverse demand and quality standards across the globe, has reached a level of maturity that will enable it to maintain export volumes whilst also increasing unit value,” he said.
“The sector’s priority: shifting from price competition to value competition”
Highlighting that the sector’s primary priority in the coming period will be to shift from ‘price competition’ to ‘value competition’ by enhancing the use of 100 percent durum wheat and expanding the range of premium products, he noted, “We place great importance on the contribution that our government’s diplomatic initiatives will provide in addressing the tax disadvantages we face in Far Eastern markets and in updating the quota limits within the European Union to align with our sector’s potential. We aim to balance the changes that may arise from increased local investment in traditional markets such as Africa with our branded and classified domestic wheat varieties in markets with high purchasing power.”
“Through public-private sector coordination, we are confident that by strengthening the ‘Turkish Pasta’ brand, we will ensure this product, made from Anatolia’s unique wheat, achieves the financial value it deserves in the global market,” he added…
