Turkey is targeting dried fruit exports worth $1.8 billion this year, as demand for these products is soaring worldwide as they are increasingly seen as part of a healthy, nutritious diet.

Dried fruit exports rose from $824 million in the first seven months of last year to $933 million in the January-July 2024 period.

According to Bazaartimes, Turkey ranks first in the world in exports of dried apricots, dried figs and raisins and is the second largest exporter in the global dried fruit market.

Traditionally, the European Union has been the largest market for Turkish dried fruit exports, with Germany leading the way in imports from Turkey. The UK has long been the second largest market for Turkish dried fruit exporters.

Recently, however, the USA has become the second largest buyer of Turkish dried fruit products.

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While climate change has a negative impact on production, it has not affected export earnings, as prices for these products have increased due to strong demand.

For example, exports of the dried fruit sector fell by 12 percent in volume terms from 227,000 tons to 200,000 tons in the first half of 2024, but exporters’ earnings increased by 15 percent from $722 million to $829 million.

The average export price per tonne of dried fruit exports, which stood at US$3,184 in the first half of 2023, increased by 30 percent to US$4,128 in the same period of 2024.