The Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association (BAIB) exported 157 million 494 thousand USD worth of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first four months of the year. Tomatoes were the top export product with a share of 61 million 547 thousand USD. The association exported 130 million 438 thousand USD worth of fresh vegetables.
Western Mediterranean region exported 43 products in total. Tomato was the top export product which is followed by pepper with an export value of 43 million 615 thousand 521 USD.
As well as 10 million 341 thousand 957 USD worth of pomegranates and 10 million 169 thousand 82 USD worth of gherkin was exported from the region.
These were followed by zucchini with 8 million 742 thousand 313 USD, pumpkin with 5 million 580 thousand 742 USD, citrus with 5 million 580 thousand 741 USD and apple with 4 million 38 thousand 597 USD.
Most products were exported to Russia and Germany
In the first four months of the year, Antalya, Isparta and Burdur exported the most fresh fruits and vegetables to Russia and Germany. While the export value to Russia totaled 23 million 460 thousand 208 USD, the export value to Germany totaled 23 million 435 thousand 861 USD.
"We will look for alternative markets"
Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association's chairman Hakki Bahar said that the export in all sectors increased by 1% compared to the same period last year. In the first 4 months, the association exported to 141 countries and the export value in all sectors totaled 621 million 808 thousand 255 USD.
Emphasizing that the fresh fruits and vegetables sector scored the highest export value, Bahar said: "We will continue to work hard in order to increase our exports. We will look for alternative markets to make sure that all companies involved in the process can continue their operations while they increase their exports."
Source: AA