THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
94 percent of dried tomato exports came from the Aegean Region…
Blood-red tomatoes, grown in the fertile lands of Anatolia, were painstakingly sun-dried and exported to 98 countries. Türkiye exported 108 million dollars worth of dried tomatoes in the first 10 months of 2025, ranking second globally behind Italy.
Of dried tomatoes, a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, 94 percent of the country’s exports were made by members of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association. Aegean exporters exported 101 million dollars worth of dried tomatoes.
“We rank second in the world in dried tomato exports”
Hayrettin Uçak, Chair of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, announcedd that Türkiye ranks second in the world in dried tomato exports, behind Italy. “34,419 tonnes of dried tomatoes exported had an 11 percent decrease in quantity according to the last year’s amount. However, export revenue maintained its 2024 level thanks to a 12 percent increase in dried tomato export prices in dollar terms,” he said.
“We demand the removal of the quota on dried tomato exports to the European Union”
Pointing out that there is a quota of 8,900 tonnes on dried tomato exports from Türkiye to the European Union, he explained, “Our exporters fill this quota every January. We demand the removal of the quota on dried tomato exports to the EU and if not, we demand that it be hiked to a level that reflects our country’s potential. If the quota is removed or hiked, our dried tomato exports have the potential to reach 200 million dollars.”
Emphasizing that dried tomatoes are a true source of flavour and healing, he noted, “Dried tomatoes add flavour to a wide range of dishes, from pasta and salads to breakfast and soups, meat dishes and fish, chicken and pizzas. We exported dried tomatoes, obtained from 15 million tonnes of fresh tomatoes grown in Anatolia, to 98 countries, from the US to Italy, Canada to Germany, Brazil to Japan. We expect to reach 125 million dollars by the end of 2025. Our goal for 2026 is to ramp up our dried tomato exports to over 150 million dollars.”
The US, Italy, the UK and Germany lead the way in exports…
He also shared that the average export price for dried tomatoes from Türkiye had increased from 2.8 to 3.16 dollars, summarizing the leading export countries as follows: “Our exports to the United States soared by 24 percent, reaching 26.2 million dollars, with the US maintaining its top spot. We sent 19.5 million dollars worth of dried tomatoes to Italy, where our exports soared by 20 percent. The UK and Germany tied for third place with 8.7 million dollars in demand for Turkish dried tomatoes.”
