Orange production in Turkey is forecast at 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) in 2022–23, a decline of 20% from the prior year production of 1.75 MMT. The forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) blames the decline on freezing weather during the beginning of the orange blossoming period in March 2022.
The yield loss is expected for mostly the Washington variety, which accounts for 70% of total orange production.
Most oranges in Turkey are produced in Antalya province. Orange planted area in Turkey has decreased from 50,246 hectares in 2019–20 to 48,176 hectares in 2021–22.
FRUIT FLY CONCERNS
The Mediterranean fruit fly is a major concern in Turkey. It causes quality and quantity losses. In order to combat the fruit fly, the government has just started the distribution of pheromone traps for fruit flies to farmers free of charge through provincial offices and member associations.
EXPORTS
Orange exports in 2022–23 are expected to decrease 25% from the previous season to 291,000 metric tons (MT). In the beginning of 2022–23, exports to Russia, Ukraine and Romania declined but exports to Iraq and Serbia increased. Russia, Iraq and Ukraine are the main Turkish orange export markets.
In 2021–22, Turkey exported 389,000 MT of oranges, which was 76% more than in 2020–21. Citrus shipments to Russia and Ukraine were complicated because of the war in Ukraine.
According to exporters, varieties and fruit quality need to be improved, and new markets such as India, China, East Asia, South Korea and the United States need to be opened in order to make profits from exports.
IMPORTS
In 2022–23, orange imports are expected to stagnate at 43,000 MT, the same as 2021–22 and 2020–21. Almost all orange imports come from the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus.
See the full USDA FAS report on citrus in Turkey here.
Source: USDA FAS
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