The greenhouse equipment industry in Turkey continues to grow with every passing year. Currently 90 companies are operating in this sector with 70 of them being domestic companies.
The companies are also looking to expand their market share in the global competition. The drop of Turkish currency in the last 6 months also provides significant competitive advantages for companies which have most of their production costs in Turkish currency.
Greenhouse Construction and Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (SERKONDER) Chairman Bulent Aytekin: “Recent economic developments and changes in Turkish currency opened up new pathways to export, and we believe our manufacturers will continue to increase its market share in export markets. Currently almost 99% of greenhouse equipment is domestically manufactured. There is almost no need for imports as we can supply all the necessary products at high quality standard through domestic production. This brought us also to a position where we can be an important player in exports.
"Looking at the fresh produce industry in Turkey, there is a significant gap between the increase of costs of the growers and the prices at the domestic market. The costs of the growers have risen exponentially over the years whereas the prices have remained relatively the same. Thus most growers which our manufacturers work with, are focusing on export markets to get better prices for their fresh fruits and vegetables.
"Currently there are around 60,000 hectares of greenhouses in the country. In Turkey, heating and cooling systems are not very frequently found in greenhouses due to costs, but in time we can see a lot of growers preferring solar energy due to its cost benefits. Only during winter times when it is too cold, growers attempt to intervene by using basic methods such as having a controlled fire in the greenhouse. The heating systems used mostly work with coal or geothermal resources. Cooling systems are not very prevalent in Turkey due to its high use of electricity and high electricity prices in the country. That’s why it is our prediction that when growers know more about solar energy systems and their benefits, they will all be inclined to move forward with it."
Source: Dunya Gida