THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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October, 2026…
Murat Yılmaz, Vice President of the Greenhouse Investors and Producers Association (SERA-BİR), told an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent that the continued growth of tomato exports is significant for the national economy.
Stating that Türkiye’s tomato exports reached 304.171 million dollars in the first nine months of 2026—marking a 4.19 percent increase compared to the same period last year—Yılmaz presented a positive outlook for the sector, while recalling that exports had stood at 401.193 million dollars in 2025 due to climatic conditions and production challenges.
Expressing the expectation that the rise in exports would continue through the end of the year, Yılmaz made the following assessment:
“Looking at the nine-month performance, I consider it highly likely that we will surpass the 401 million dollars export level seen in 2025 by the end of the year. We achieved an average monthly export value of approximately 33.8 million dollars during the first nine months of 2026. To exceed the 401 million dollars mark, a total of approximately 97 million dollars in exports over the final three months of the year will suffice. This equates to a monthly average of roughly 32.3 million dollars. If the current pace is maintained, it appears possible for us to exceed last year’s figures.”
Pointing out that export analysis should consider not only total value but also export volume and the value per kilogram, Yılmaz emphasized that added value has become increasingly important for the sector. “The goal is to create new, sustainable markets with high added value,” Yılmaz said.
Underlining that the export value per kilogram rose to approximately 1.56 dollars in the first half of 2026, Yılmaz continued:
“This demonstrates that Turkish tomatoes can be marketed at a higher value. We know that Türkiye exported over 402,000 tonnes of tomatoes to 51 countries in 2025. Therefore, the sector’s next objective should not merely be to increase sales in existing markets, but to establish new, sustainable markets that offer high added value. Türkiye possesses a significant competitive advantage in tomato production. The rise in investments in modern greenhouses strengthens our export potential by enabling us to supply standardized, high-quality products over longer periods of the year. I believe we need to expand our market diversity—particularly beyond Europe—to include regions such as the Far East, the Middle East, the UK and North America.”
Highlighting that the sector continues to seek new markets, Yılmaz emphasized the importance of Türkiye reaching a broader geographical area with its tomato exports.
“Our primary goal is to establish enduring new markets that will elevate Türkiye’s tomato exports to much higher levels in the coming years,” he added…
