Turkish apple exporters expect a recovery season as production rebounds

Turkish apple exporters are approaching the new campaign with more favourable expectations than a year ago, both on volumes and on price competitiveness, FreshPlaza reported. Mehmet Cakmak, head of the Turkish apple exporter Elpa Gida, told the publication that the coming Turkish apple season looks clearly more promising than the previous one.

The difference is production. After the losses and sourcing difficulties of the past campaign, Cakmak said the expected recovery in output should give exporters a more solid supply base and more flexibility to respond to international demand. He described the season ahead as a catch-up campaign for Turkish exporters, in which restored availability translates directly into the ability to quote competitively against other origins.

India anchors the export programme

Current demand is particularly encouraging in India, which Cakmak described as Turkey's main market and an essential destination for Turkish apples. The reason is varietal: Red Delicious, the country's flagship export variety, is the apple most consumed by Indian buyers. That alignment between what Turkish orchards produce and what the Indian trade sells keeps India at the centre of the export programme rather than one outlet among several.

Beyond India, Cakmak pointed to marked interest from Saudi Arabia and Libya. Both markets, he said, offer real opportunities for Turkish exporters, particularly for well-sized fruit that meets the requirements of wholesale and retail channels. Sizing and grading, rather than headline volume, determine which consignments can be placed in those channels.

Red Sea routing remains a constraint

Logistics stay a major concern. Cakmak cited persistent uncertainty around Red Sea shipping routes and the Suez Canal. Some carriers still have difficulty using the Suez route, while other services are able to transit the corridor with relatively short transit times to India. Those services, he said, represent a considerable advantage for Turkish exporters in an unstable environment. The advantage is commercial as much as operational, since transit time governs arrival quality and the price fresh fruit can command.

Sourcing network over infrastructure

Elpa Gida operates primarily as an interface between growers, packing stations and international buyers, Cakmak said. The company sources fruit from experienced growers and reliable packing partners, then delivers to importers according to their specifications and the standards of their respective markets. Rather than concentrating on infrastructure investment, its priority is to strengthen the sourcing network, improve coordination with growers and packers, and guarantee consistency in sizing, packing and delivery. That approach, he said, keeps the company flexible enough to serve the specific requirements of each market.

Market access is still the bottleneck

India, Saudi Arabia and Libya are expected to remain priority destinations, but Cakmak argued that Turkish exporters need to diversify their commercial outlets and reduce their dependence on a limited number of destinations. He identified Egypt, Colombia and Brazil as well suited to the varieties Turkey produces, namely Red Delicious, Gala and Granny Smith, yet these markets remain closed to Turkish apples because of the absence of phytosanitary protocols or high import duties. Turkish authorities are working to facilitate exports to those destinations, he said, although the process remains laborious, and he expressed hope that access will be granted soon.

• Priority destinations: India, Saudi Arabia, Libya
• Markets currently closed to Turkish apples: Egypt, Colombia, Brazil
• Main export varieties: Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith