Turkey has lifted wheat import restrictions that flour producers had blamed for hurting their competitiveness in international markets. The news, welcomed by exporters who previously produced flour using 75% domestic and 25% imported wheat, came from the Turkish Grain Board (TMO).

The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) announced that it has lifted the wheat import restrictions that had been in place since June 2024. In a letter sent by the TMO General Directorate's Trade Department to the Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation (TFIF) regarding wheat sales within the scope of processed product exports, it was stated that wheat sales to exporting companies had been halted. The TMO statement read: "The sale of bread wheat for processed product exports by our organization will be terminated as of the end of the working day on March 18, 2025."

This development was interpreted by the Anatolian Flour Industrialists Association, based on information from the TMO Domestic Trade Department, as the full reopening of wheat imports under the Inward Processing Regime.

The wheat import ban, which started in June and was strictly enforced during the summer months, was relaxed on October 15 with a 15% quota and later the ratio was increased to 25%. This measure had negatively affected flour exports. With the new regulation, the sector's export capacity is expected to increase again.