Over the past 5 years, Japan's food imports surged by 17%, reaching $73.6 billion, while Turkey's food exports to Japan soared by 72% during the same period, climbing from $164 million to $282 million. Positioned as the world's food hub, Turkey intensifies its endeavors, aiming for a $1 billion export target to Japan. 

Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters' Associations, emphasized Turkey's status as the world's food warehouse with thousands of diverse food products and expressed that in a bid to achieve the goals of the Turkish food sector in the Japanese market, they participated with 51 companies at the Foodex Japan Fair in Tokyo from March 5th to 8th, 2024.

Muhammet Öztürk, President of the Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds, and Products Exporters' Association, emphasized that the grains, pulses, and oil seeds sector leads food product exports from Turkey to Japan with a share of 95 million dollars.

Muhammet Öztürk, President of the Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds, and Products Exporters' Association

President Öztürk stated that they hold a 34 percent share of food exports from Turkey to Japan, mentioning, "In our cereals, pulses, and oilseeds sector exports, pasta takes the lead with 62 million dollars, followed by chocolate product exports at 11 million dollars. Additionally, vegetable oil exports amounted to 5.7 million dollars, and white chocolate products followed closely with 5.5 million dollars. We aim to surpass 100 million dollars in our exports to Japan in 2024."

The Foodex Japan Fair will see the participation of 51 firms, including exporters of pasta, bulgur, flour, and olive oil, as part of Turkey's National Participation Organization.