Iranian Apple Exports to Turkey Rise 65-Fold to 3,000 Tonnes
Iran exported 3,000 tonnes of apples to Turkey this year, up from 46 tonnes a year earlier. The sharp increase contrasts with a decline in Iran’s overall apple export volume and value.
Turkey emerges as a fast-growing destination
Iranian apple exports to Turkey increased 65-fold this year, rising from 46 tonnes in the previous year to 3,000 tonnes, according to Al-Manar. The figures were presented by Salem Pour, director general of the Winter and Dried Fruits Affairs Office at Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Turkey was among a group of destinations recording the strongest growth in purchases of Iranian apples. The list also included Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Oman, Tajikistan and Libya. The expansion into these markets gives Iranian growers and exporters additional outlets, although Turkey’s 3,000-tonne volume remains small compared with Iran’s national production and established export business.
Overall exports decline from last year
The increase in trade with Turkey came against a weaker overall export picture. Iran shipped 203,000 tonnes of apples worth $80 million during the corresponding period last year. Salem Pour said comparisons with the current year showed a decline in both export volume and value, but the report did not provide current aggregate figures.
The Ministry of Agriculture official called for a detailed review of the reasons for the decline and the removal of barriers affecting shipments. He also said Iran needed to develop emerging markets to compensate for weaker exports. Restrictions affecting some trade routes have increased the need to identify alternatives and establish the conditions required to expand business with new destinations.
Iraq, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Oman and Syria remain among the principal markets for Iranian apples, alongside countries in Central Asia. Maintaining these destinations while building additional sales channels will be important for exporters handling a crop that is considerably larger than the volumes currently moving into Turkey.
Production exceeds 4.2 million tonnes
Iran produces between 4.2 million and 4.4 million tonnes of apples annually. West Azerbaijan province ranks first nationally, with yearly output of between 1 million and 1.4 million tonnes. National production is expected to exceed 4.2 million tonnes this year, according to the ministry official.
About 2.2 million tonnes of this year’s crop are expected to be allocated to fresh consumption. A further 640,000 to 860,000 tonnes are set to go to processing and conversion facilities. These figures leave a substantial share of the crop dependent on other domestic uses, storage or export channels.
Market diversification becomes more urgent
The contrast between rapid growth in Turkey and falling aggregate exports highlights the limits of expansion from a low base. The additional shipments to Turkey amount to just under 3,000 tonnes compared with last year, far below the 203,000 tonnes Iran exported across all markets during the comparable previous period.
For growers, processors and traders, the central issue is whether fast-growing destinations can develop into stable, higher-volume markets. Continued access to Iraq, India, the Gulf and Central Asia will remain significant, while alternative routes could reduce exposure to disruptions on existing corridors. The ministry’s focus on targeted exporter support indicates that market access and logistics, as well as production, are central to Iran’s effort to reverse the broader export decline.
