Manisa, a city located in western Turkey exported more than 500 million USD worth of Sultana seedless raisins.
The 2018/2019 export season is almost over in the Manisa Valley. From 1 September 2018 to 17 August 2019, Turkey exported 246 thousand tons of raisins to 99 countries and earned 501 million 908 thousand USD. In the season 2017/2018, the country exported 273 thousand tons of raisins in return of 443 million 127 thousand USD (399,5 million Euro). Even though the export volume of raisins dropped by 10%, the export value increased by 13%. The last time Turkey exported more than 500 million USD worth of raisins was 6 years ago. The country exported 536 million USD (483,3 million Euro) worth of raisins in the season 2012/2013.
Raisin prices increased to 2.035 USD per ton
Aegean Dried Fruit and Product Exporters Association's vice chairman Birol Celep announced that the export prices of raisins increased by 26%. In 2017/2018 season, the export price for raisins were 1.617 USD (1.458 Euro) per ton. In 2018/2019, this increased to 2.035 USD.
"Soon, we will export the last raisins of the season and we expect to reach 520 to 530 million USD. For our continued success in raisin exports during the 2019/2020 season, we expect the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to assume the role of market maker through the Turkish Grain Board. What we also expect from our exporters is that they should not make bargain sales. Only then, we can make sure of our continued success in exports." said Celep.
The Chinese and Japanese like Turkish raisins
The Turkish dried fruits sector has started to be rewarded for their efforts in promoting products in the Far East market. The biggest increase in seedless raisin exports occurred in exports to Far East countries. The exports of raisins to the Far East increased from 48 million USD (43 million Euro) to 65 million USD (58 million Euro). While the overall raisins exports value to the Far Eastern countries increased by 35%, the exports value to China alone increased by 135% and the exports value to Japan increased by 63%. The market share of raisins in overall exports increased from 11% to 13%. Turkey's raisins exports to China increased from 2 million 90 thousand USD (1,88 million Euro) to 4 million 922 thousand USD (4,44 million Euro) and to Japan from 9,3 million USD (8,39 million Euro) to 15,2 million USD (13,71 million Euro).
British people prefer Turkish raisins at tea time
The UK is the country that prefers Turkish raisins the most. British people use Turkish raisins in their cakes for their famous tea time. Turkey exported 136,7 million USD (123,2 million Euro) worth of raisins to the UK and 56.7 million USD (51,3 million Euro) worth of raisins to Germany. The third biggest export was destined to the Netherlands with 51,1 million USD (46 million Euro) worth of Turkish raisins. These countries were followed by Italy, France, Australia, Spain, Japan, Belgium and Ireland.
