According to data released by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the grain, pulses, oilseeds and related products sector increased its exports by 3.9 percent in 2025, reaching USD 12.4 billion despite global market fluctuations.

Based on figures announced by TİM, the grain sector completed 2025 with exports totaling USD 12.4 billion. Covering a broad range of core product groups such as chocolate and cocoa products, sunflower oil, biscuits and wafers, confectionery, pasta and wheat flour, the sector recorded a 3.9 percent increase in export value.

A notable divergence was observed among product groups in the 2025 export performance. Chocolate and cocoa-based products ranked first, with exports of approximately USD 1.4 billion and a strong increase of 47.7 percent. This was followed by sunflower oil, which reached USD 1.1 billion in exports with an 18.9 percent rise. In contrast, pasta and wheat flour exports recorded limited declines of 1.6 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

From a country perspective, exports to Iraq—Türkiye’s largest market with USD 1.7 billion in 2025—contracted by 18.2 percent. On the other hand, strong momentum was achieved in the U.S. market, where exports rose by 36.3 percent to exceed USD 885 million. Exports to Syria also increased significantly, rising by 35.4 percent to reach USD 700 million.

“Our sector has demonstrated strong resilience against external shocks”

Ahmet Tiryakioğlu

Emphasizing that the sector managed to close the year with an export increase of nearly 4 percent despite the contraction in the Iraqi market, Ahmet Tiryakioğlu, Chairman of the TİM Grain, Pulses, Oilseeds and Related Products Sector Board, underlined that this performance is a concrete indicator of market diversification and adaptability to external shocks.

In his assessment, Tiryakioğlu stated: “The performance demonstrated by the grain sector in 2025 once again highlighted the strategic importance of maintaining a balance between seed-based annual crops and perennial planted areas in terms of sustainable income and foreign trade equilibrium. The scale and continuity provided by essential product groups such as grains and pulses have served as a complementary factor supporting the competitiveness of the food industry. Despite a contraction of nearly USD 400 million—corresponding to a value-based decline of 18.2 percent—in Iraq, our largest export market, it is highly meaningful that our sector closed the year with an export increase of approximately 4 percent. This picture clearly demonstrates our market diversification reflex and our capacity to adapt to external shocks.”

Drawing attention to the strong growth achieved in the U.S. market, Tiryakioğlu noted that the 36.3 percent increase indicates that Türkiye has advanced its quality standards and product reliability to a higher level. He emphasized that intensive promotional activities carried out across the United States throughout the year—including events, trade fairs and trade delegations—played a significant role in this success, adding that these efforts strengthened not only export figures but also the overall perception of Türkiye.

With its 2025 performance, the grain sector once again confirmed its flexibility and competitiveness in an environment marked by increasing global uncertainties.