Turkey maintains global flour export leadership amid grain production recovery

Turkey continues to lead the world in flour exports, a position it has held since 2005, while ranking second globally in pasta exports, according to Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı. Speaking at the IAOM Eurasia Conference in Uzbekistan, Yumaklı noted that trade between Turkey and Uzbekistan has tripled over the last decade, reaching over $3 billion, with a target of $5 billion.

Regarding domestic production, the Minister reported a significant recovery in grain yields following previous losses due to drought and frost. Wheat production is expected to reach 24.5 million tons and barley 10 million tons, representing a 44% increase from the previous year. To ensure food security, the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) has purchased 12.3 million tons of grain, the highest volume in its history, bringing total stocks to 17.5 million tons.

Separately, discussions regarding the price gap between farm-gate and retail costs persist. Provincial Agriculture Director Yaşar Kavak addressed the disparity where products like lemons can see price increases of over 700% from producer to consumer. Kavak emphasized that the issue is not merely the presence of intermediaries, but the costs associated with harvesting, transportation, storage, and the cold chain, suggesting that the focus should be on shortening the supply chain to increase producer shares.