Aegean Export Associations states that Turkey, which produces an average of 14 million tons of tomatoes per year, is one of the world's leading producers of tomatoes and tomato products.
In addition to tomatoes produced in Turkey, there is an increasing demand for products such as tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, frozen tomatoes, ketchup, tomato sauces and fruit juices.
The exports of tomatoes and tomato products in 2021 reached 729 million dollars with an increase of 20% compared to the previous year.
The fresh tomato export, which constitutes 49.7% of the total exports, was 313 million dollars in 2020 and reached 363 million dollars in 2021 with an increase of 16%.
Tomato exports, which showed a significant increase in 2022, reached 43.6 million in January 2022 with an increase of 23% compared to the same period of the previous year.
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While Turkey exported fresh tomatoes to 53 countries last year, Russia became the main importing country with a purchase of 68 million dollars. Romania followed with 58 million dollars and Bulgaria with 41 million dollars.
Tomato paste ranked second in exports after fresh tomatoes. Turkey, which increased its tomato paste export by 32% last year, exported a total of 208 million dollars to 122 countries. The main importing country of Turkish tomato paste was Iraq with 120 million dollars, followed by Italy with 18 million dollars and Germany with 11.5 million dollars.