Aegean fresh produce exports reach $572 million as sector seeks China cherry access
Aegean exporters sold $572 million of fresh fruit, vegetables and processed products in January-June 2026, up from $559 million a year earlier. The sector is seeking renewed access to China, which imports about 600,000 tonnes of cherries annually.
Aegean exports rise in the first half
Exporters from Turkey’s Aegean region shipped $572 million of fresh fruit, vegetables and processed fruit and vegetable products in January-June 2026, according to Haberler.com. The total increased from $559 million in the same period of 2025, a gain of $13 million, or about 2.3%.
The region’s portfolio covers more than 100 products, ranging from citrus fruit, figs and grapes to tomato paste and pickles. This breadth gives exporters exposure to both seasonal fresh produce and processed goods with longer shelf lives, although logistics remain an important constraint for perishable shipments.
Cengiz Balık, chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, said the increase was achieved despite uncertainty in the global economy and logistics difficulties. He described 2025 as a successful year, when association members exported $1.231 billion of fresh fruit, vegetables and related products to 128 countries.
Cherries and tomatoes lead the product mix
Cherries, tomatoes, mandarins and peaches were the leading products in the fresh fruit and vegetable category during the first half. Balık highlighted the quality and market diversification achieved by Turkish cherry suppliers, which are seeking to broaden their customer base beyond established destinations.
Processed products added another set of export drivers. Sun-dried tomatoes, pickled gherkins, pickled peppers, canned vegetables and apple juice were the leading items in this segment. These products allow processors and exporters to market Aegean agricultural output in forms less vulnerable to short selling windows than fresh fruit.
Germany, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were the five largest destinations reported by the association. The list combines nearby European and Eurasian markets with the more distant US market, indicating that Aegean suppliers have retained established outlets while building sales across longer routes.
China decision could reshape cherry sales
Turkey is working to restart cherry exports to China. A Chinese delegation visited Turkey on 22-28 June as part of the approval process, and Turkish exporters are waiting for Chinese authorities to consider the delegation’s report before deciding whether to permit imports again.
China imports approximately 600,000 tonnes of cherries a year and is the world’s largest cherry importer, according to Balık. Renewed access would therefore open a market whose annual import volume is substantial relative to most individual destinations. It could give Turkish growers and exporters another outlet for premium fruit while increasing the importance of compliance, cold-chain capacity and transit times.
No timetable for a final Chinese decision or potential export volumes was disclosed. Until approval is granted, Germany, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands remain the core reported markets for Aegean exporters. The first-half increase shows continued sales growth, but access to China would represent a separate opportunity concentrated specifically in cherries rather than an immediate expansion across the region’s entire product range.
