Turkish dried-fruit exporters step up campaign to gain market share in India
Turkish dried-fruit exporters are expanding direct engagement with Indian buyers, focusing on dried apricots, figs, seedless raisins and pistachios. A September buying mission generated about 150 bilateral meetings, with further promotion planned at MEWA India 2027 in Mumbai.
Indian buyers meet Turkish suppliers
Turkey’s dried-fruit industry has intensified its campaign to expand its share of the Indian market, bringing leading buyers into direct contact with producers and exporters in İzmir and Gaziantep. The Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters’ Association hosted an Indian sectoral buying mission from 14 to 19 September 2026, according to Dünya.
Seven Indian companies active in the dried-fruit and nut sector joined the program. During its İzmir stage, more than 20 Turkish exporters held approximately 150 bilateral business meetings with the visiting companies. Discussions concentrated on dried apricots, dried figs, seedless raisins and pistachios, product categories in which Turkey has an established production and export base. The parties considered both immediate trading opportunities and longer-term cooperation.
Exporters seek a larger position in a growing relationship
Yusuf Gabay, chairman of the Aegean association, said Turkey exported goods worth $1.241 billion to India in 2025. Turkish exports to the country rose 6% to $863 million between January and August 2026, while annual food-product exports to India amount to $133 million. The figures cover broader trade, but the association sees room for dried fruit to secure a larger share of the commercial relationship.
Gabay said the quality and range of Turkish dried figs, apricots and seedless raisins could support a much stronger position in India. He described the approximately 150 meetings as evidence of interest on both sides: Turkish suppliers are looking for access to the Indian market, while Indian buyers are assessing Turkish products. The association’s objective is to convert individual contacts into sustained commercial ties rather than rely on isolated transactions.
Industry partnerships and Mumbai fair form next steps
The Turkish delegation also met Rajeev Pabreja, treasurer of the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India) and president of MEWA, and Amit Lohani, founding director of the Forum of Indian Food Importers. Discussions covered the development of bilateral dried-fruit trade, closer communication between industry organizations and possible joint projects. The association wants reciprocal visits and commercial contacts to become regular, combining relationships with importers and distributors with cooperation between sector bodies.
The next major step is scheduled for MEWA India 2027, to be held in Mumbai from 11 to 13 March 2027. Under the Turkish Dried Fruits TURQUALITY Project, the association plans to exhibit at the fair and organize another sectoral trade mission during the same period. It expects the two activities to connect Turkish suppliers with more importers, distributors and industry professionals. The campaign also extends to social media, where Indian consumers receive content about the characteristics, uses, recipes and nutritional role of Turkish dried fruit. After the İzmir meetings, the Indian delegation visited Gaziantep for further business talks and company and industry visits, including presentations on Turkey’s production, processing and export capacity. The longer-term goal is to build lasting recognition for Turkish dried fruit in India, particularly dried figs, dried apricots and seedless raisins, and translate that visibility into a higher market share.
