ISTANBUL, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish exporters said the country's dried fruit industry demonstrated resilience amid the country's worst drought in over 50 years, maintaining export revenues of 1.22 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of 2025.
According to sources from Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations on Wednesay, dried fruit exports dipped merely 1.7 percent year-on-year to 243,544 tons, despite severe drought and spring frosts affecting production across major farming regions.
Dried grapes led the country's exports with 365.9 million dollars in revenue, followed by dried apricots at 217 million dollars and dried figs at 203 million dollars. The European Union remained the largest market, accounting for 42.5 percent of total shipments, with Germany as the largest buyer, followed by Britain and the United States.
Official data show that national rainfall levels dropped 27 percent below average -- the lowest in 52 years -- while the vital Southeastern Anatolia region suffered a 53 percent decline. Furthermore, temperatures in some areas fell below minus 15 degrees Celsius during spring, freezing fruit blossoms and further affecting yields.
Mehmet Cikmaz, head of Southeast Anatolian Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, stressed the industry's commitment to quality despite climate challenges. "We faced drought and frost this season, which impacted production in some areas. However, thanks to our dedication to high product standards, demand for Turkish dried fruits remained robust, allowing the sector to avoid major losses," he said.
Türkiye aims to achieve around 1.9 billion dollars in dried fruit exports by the end of the year. ■
