corn
Turkey’s Corn Exports Turkey’s corn planting areas, which were 6.8 million da in the 2015/2016 production season, decreased by 14% compared to the 2018/2019 production season and decreased to 5.9 million da. The average yield, which was 930 kg/da in the 2015/2016 production season, increased by 4% to 963 kg/da in 2018/2019. When the decrease in the corn cultivation area and the increase in yield in the last 5 market years are examined, it is seen that the production amount decreased by 6%. Especially in the last two years, the producers’ tendency to cotton due to the higher return of cotton competing with corn has caused a decrease in corn areas and production. The first 10 provinces where corn is grown; Konya (19%), Adana (15%), Mardin (8%), Osmaniye (6%), Karaman (5%), Sakarya (5%), Manisa (5%), Şanlıurfa (4%), Diyarbakır ( 4% and Kahramanmaraş (4%) and these provinces provide 75% of Turkey’s corn production.
When corn prices in the last 5 market years are analyzed, it is seen that international prices are lower than domestic prices. While domestic prices were 678 TL/ton in 2015, this figure increased to 938 TL/ton in 2018. However, since the rate of price increase is less than the rate of increase in the dollar exchange rate, a decrease has been observed over the years when domestic prices are analyzed in dollars. While 1.5 million tons of imports were made in 2015, this figure increased to 2.1 million tons in 2018. The reason for this increase is thought to be that the increase in animal production increases the need for feed.
Looking at the import amounts on a yearly basis, it is seen that most of the imports in Turkey were made in the first seven months. The reason for this is that the earliest corn harvest in Turkey started in Adana in August and the grain corn harvest did not start between January and July. In order to meet the domestic demand until the harvest begins, a quota of 700 thousand tons of corn was granted to TMO valid until 31 May 2019. It is estimated that the amount of corn production and cultivation areas will increase in 2019. In this case, it is thought that the expected import amount will be quite low due to the rapid progress of the harvest in the last 5 months of 2019.
