IZMIR
Turkey's exports of agricultural products to China are on the rise.
According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) data, last year Turkey exported 1,970 tonnes of hazelnut worth 11.2 million USD to the Chinese market.
China showed high interest to dried fig; as 800 tonnes of dried fig exportation has been completed during 2012 so far.
In 2011, 187 tonnes of dried fig were exported according to TIM's data. Olive oil exportation to China went up 105 percent with 464 tonnes and apricot exportation rose 37 percent with 195 tonnes.
Eli Alharal, a member of the board of TIM, said that they achieved success over dried fig exports. He said that the exportation of agricultural crops went up to thousand tonnes from twenty tonnes in four years time.
Alharal stated, "Dried figs were not known in China. In the Chinese market, they had crops from Iran which were not related to Turkish figs. Firstly, we introduced dried figs and then organized 'tasting days' in popular supermarkets in order to explain the dried figs culture. It was a risky investment for us but Chinese liked it more than what we imagined. Also, there is high number of sales over internet and TV. China is the 5th large market on the Turkish dried fig exportation."
Alharal stated that they are working on introducing the olive oil to Chinese market after high interest over dried figs and apricot.
Alharal said that their aim is introducing Turkish agricultural products especially dried fruits to Japanese, Indonesian, Indian and Russian markets and they will be setting up a 'Dried Fruits Introduction Team'.
Yavuz Avci, the owner of Yamasa Enterprise, which markets Turkish agricultural crops in China stated that traditional Turkish crops take interest of Chinese consumers. He stressed that there is a high potential on Turkish agricultural goods in the Chinese market. However, he said, "To grow in the Chinese market, we need to work hard and endeavour."
Avci stated that 2012 is the Chinese year in Turkey and 2013 is the Turkish year in China. Avci explained that it might be advantageous for Turkish food exporters.
(Reporting by Tolga Albay)
