Turkey onion producers seek protection amid falling prices and production

Turkey is facing significant shifts in its onion market due to declining production and changes in import regulations. Onion production is projected to decrease by 13.5% this year, dropping from last year’s 2.9 million tons. Industry representatives attribute this decline to rising production costs and low market prices, which have discouraged farmers from planting.

To stabilize supply and prices, the Ministry of Trade has implemented a temporary reduction in customs duties on onion imports, lowering the rate from 49.5% to 5% until August 31, 2026. While this aims to ensure supply security, it has contributed to a sharp drop in market prices, falling from 70 TL to between 15 and 20 TL per kilogram.

Reşit Kaya, President of the Onion Producers and Suppliers Association (SODER), has called on the government to revise import policies to protect domestic producers. He noted that production costs range between 15 and 17 TL per kilogram, leaving farmers with minimal profit margins. Kaya emphasized that agricultural production is a matter of national security and urged the state to provide incentives for exporting surplus production to global markets to ensure sustainable income for farmers.