Ahmet Tiryakioğlu
Member of the Sectoral Council of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM)
Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Sector

Having reached $11.9 billion in exports in 2024, the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector aims to exceed $12.5 billion in 2025 with a 7% increase—driven by strong production capacity, strategic geographical advantages, promotional projects in global markets, and a diversified export portfolio. 

The driving force behind Türkiye’s development journey is a productive and export-oriented economy. Every export item is not merely a commercial achievement, but a powerful representation of our nation’s labor, knowledge, and competitive strength on the global stage. In this spirit, I wholeheartedly congratulate all our exporters who contribute to Türkiye’s export success. I also extend my sincere congratulations to the companies honored at the “Champions of Export” Awards Ceremony, organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), which unites sectors around shared goals and guides our national export vision. My deepest gratitude goes to all those whose efforts carry Türkiye to the global spotlight.

Having increased its exports from $1 billion in 2002 to around $12 billion over the years, and raised its share in Türkiye’s total exports from 2.7% to over 5%, our Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Sector experienced a year in which the results fell below our usual high-performance levels. Covering essential food products such as wheat flour, pasta, vegetable oils, biscuits, and sugar- and cocoa-based products, the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector recorded a total export value of $11.9 billion in 2024. During this period, total cereal exports amounted to 12.2 million tons, with the average export price per kilogram rising by 3.5% to $0.88.

Due to the wheat import ban implemented from June to October, wheat flour exports decreased by 20.9% to $1.159 billion, reducing its share in total cereal exports to 9.7%. Iraq remained the sector’s largest export market, surpassing $2.1 billion in exports, followed by the United States with $651.6 million and Syria with $517.5 million.

Türkiye possesses some unique characteristics found in only a few countries worldwide. We are the gene center for wheat and pulses. We hold the greatest potential in terms of endemic plant species. We benefit from a Customs Union agreement with EU countries. Moreover, we have the capacity to conduct trade with vastly different regions thanks to shared languages and cultural ties with diverse nations. We also possess the infrastructure and logistics capabilities to market food products globally.

Despite all this potential, our share in the global agricultural GDP—which amounts to $4.5 trillion annually—is around $70 billion. If we succeed in becoming the hub of global food and agricultural trade under the new global model, we could double our share to 3%. In Türkiye’s pursuit of this ambitious goal in global food and agriculture trade, the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector plays a strategic role. Our country, which produces 2% of the world’s 800 million tons of wheat and 5.5% of its 148 million tons of barley, makes our sector the cornerstone of Türkiye’s agricultural trade.

Developments in the Black Sea region, which has become the global center of grain production, are also critical to Türkiye’s agricultural trade. We expect the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war and the normalization of diplomatic relations to have a positive impact on food trade. If sanctions imposed by the EU and the U.S. on Russia begin to ease depending on the course of the conflict, we could be among the first to respond swiftly to renewed demand in that market.

Under the coordination of AHBİB and in cooperation with GAİB, our Turquality project, which began last year in Russia with the promotion of bulgur, continues. Additionally, with the support of our Ministry of Trade, we are launching another Turquality initiative to promote sugar-based products in the United States. As part of this effort, we will kick off promotional activities with a baklava campaign at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York this year. We believe these investments in communication will yield high returns.

As a result of all these developments, we are confident that our sector will reach a new record in exports, exceeding $12.5 billion with a 7% increase this year.