Tangerine production in Turkey is expected to climb 14% in 2020-21, to 1.6 million metric tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported. The fruit will have good harvest quality due to favorable timing of rains and temperatures. Production will exceed that of 2019-20 because of freezing conditions and heavy storms during the 2019-20 bloom period, but will likely be lower than the 1.65 million metric tons produced in 2018-19.
In 2020-21, Turkey’s domestic consumption of mandarins is estimated to increase to 729,000 metric tons due to the higher production. That’s up from 602,000 metric tons in 2019-20 but well below the 2018-19 consumption level of 970,000 metric tons.
TRADE
Tangerines are the top citrus export from Turkey. As of April 2020-21, tangerine exports reached 890,595 metric tons, 8% higher than the same period of the previous season. Exports were mostly to Russia, Ukraine and Iraq. For the full 2020-21 season, exports are expected to reach 900,000 metric tons, also 8% higher than the previous season. The export value is expected to be $403 million.
Tangerine exports to Iraq have dramatically decreased because of differences in Iraqi and Turkish consumer preferences. According to Turkish exporters, Iraq requires tangerines to be green and with leaves, but Turkish border officials, who check if products comply with Turkish export requirements, have not been allowing green, leaved tangerines to be exported.
The Satsuma variety is the most preferred of the exported tangerine varieties; more than half of total Turkish exports are Satsumas.
PLANTING AREA AND TREES
Tangerine/mandarin plantings in Turkey total 55,000 hectares in 2020-21, up from 53,553 hectares in 2019-20 and 51,590 hectares in 2018-19. The country has 15.9 million bearing trees, up from 15.2 million in 2019-20 and 14.4 million in 2018-19.
See the full USDA/FAS report on Turkey.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service
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