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Press release…
Alper Alhat said that Akhisar is Turkey’s leader in table olive production,
Akhisar Commodity Exchange Chairman Alper Alhat said, “We are also increasing day by day in olive oil. The most modern facilities, the most hardworking businesses are in Akhisar district of Manisa province. We do great things together. Despite the drought, we are happy that we did not experience serious declines in yield. Despite all the adverse conditions, this year’s yield in Turkey increased by 20 percent. The world’s yield decreased by 20 percent. For this reason, we, as Turkey, receive a record demand in exports.”
“Value Added Export”
Alhat continued as follows: “However, we think differently from those who perceive exports as ‘suppliers to rival countries’. Now we have to get rid of old habits and strengthen export models that create added value. Years ago, 600 dollars of packaged olive oil support had been given, packaged sales increased suddenly, but for some reason, this support was converted into TL and melted away with the rapid increase in foreign currency. Today it is at the level of 1600 lira. If support can be raised to a meaningful level again, packaged exports will ramp up.”
“Do not give the broker a chance”
Noting that the sector is facilitated by bulk export rather than packaged export due to the low amount of support, Alhat explained, “Our olive oil, which remains relatively cheap due to the high exchange rate, whets the appetite of rival olive oil companies abroad.” Meanwhile last year it was said ‘there is a ban’ and the olive oil harvest was less than the previous year, yet more bulk olive oil exports were made with special permits compared to the previous year. The farmer did not win, neither did the industrialist. Who won? Firms of rival countries and their brokers in our country who are able to obtain these permits. If the bulk export was increasing in the year that the yield decreased, what fell?Consumption, of course. Unfortunately, our domestic consumption of olive oil per capita, which we carry from 0.8 to 2 litres with a lot of effort, has dropped to 1.4, whereras it should not decrease.”
“VAT has to go down to 1 percent”
Stating that the representatives of the sector, who did not raise little or no rise in the prices of olive oil offered to the end consumer despite the increases in the input costs, did more than do their part in the fight against inflation, Alhat reminded again the demands of reducing the retail VAT of olive oil to 1 percent.
“Olive producers, who make all kinds of sacrifices, need positive discrimination at the point we have reached today. The olive and olive oil sector, which is one hundred percent national and domestic production, has been in trouble for years, but unfortunately, the VAT reduction that we have requested for a long time has not been made,” Alhat added.
“Moreover, around 30 percent customs duty is waived on the import of other vegetable oils. Olive oil is the special child of this country, it is sad that it is treated this way. If the olive oil sector was supported by 30 percent, this farmer would plant olives on the mountain. Let’s not offend the farmers and industrialists,” Alhat concluded…
