More than 450 percent increase in the export of dairy products

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, milk and dairy products continue to break export records this year. Due to their affordable prices, Turkish manufacturers come to the fore in supply. It was noted that more than 450 percent increases were observed in the exports of milk and dairy products to North Africa.

Many countries have turned to Turkey in the purchase of milk and dairy products. This year, we exported more milk and dairy products than ever before because the supply chain was disrupted at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and Turkish products were suitable.

The North African market also changed the ranking of the countries with the highest exports. The sector, which closed with an export of 438.6 million dollars with an increase of 45.7 percent last year, closed with 500 million dollars with the addition of ice cream and lactose. In 2021, the most exports were made to Egypt with 69 million dollars, followed by Iraq with 60.5 million dollars, and Algeria in third place. While exports to Egypt increased by 350 percent, it increased by 456 percent to Algeria. In Iraq, it remained at the same level. In the first two months of this year, 23.8 million dollars were exported to Egypt, 13.6 million dollars to Algeria and 8.2 million dollars to Iraq. In the first two months of this year, the sector made an export of 95.6 million dollars with an increase of 53 percent. Again in this period, the most exported products were milk and cream, butter and whey.

The Chairman of the Packaged Milk and Dairy Products Manufacturers Association (ASÜD), Harun Çallı, said, "The President's visits to the Middle East and Africa were effective in exports. The product we mainly sell to Iraq is cheese, and some statistics are based on the product. We make a speciality of grated stuffed mozzarella, which we sell to China and Iraq. Other products, such as milk powder, stand out as products of opportunity due to the conjugate.

We have value-added and final product exports, which are valuable to us. Our hope in the new period is that our products will be appreciated in the markets where we experience an increase in exports, and there will be people who demand them when the price does not match. If penetration is achieved in countries where exports increase, some of this may be permanent.

Istanbul Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association Vice President Teoman Durukan stated that the affordable prices of raw milk and the difficulties experienced in logistics during the pandemic process paved the way for exports in Turkey and said, "In 2021, exports to China increased from 15 million dollars to 53 million dollars, an increase of 262 percent. The slowdown in exports to China in recent months has been due to the increase in transportation costs and the difficulties in finding containers. Exports to EU countries reached 8 million dollars in 2021, an increase of 45% compared to 2020. In January of this year, compared to the same period of the previous year, exports increased 10 times and rose to 2 million 446 thousand dollars. The number of companies that received export approval to the EU has increased to 31."