Turkey’s Yogurt Exports According to the information compiled by the AA correspondent from the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute, milk and dairy products exports decreased last year compared to the previous year.
Last year, a total of 300 million 206 thousand dollars of milk and dairy products exports and 67 million 49 thousand dollars of imports were made. Exports in 2020 shrank by 12.5 percent in quantity and 5.6 percent in value compared to the previous year.
Despite the decline in exports, the removal of barriers to the export of milk and dairy products to China in the middle of last year had a positive impact on the export of the sector.
While 71 million 560 thousand dollars were exported in milk and dairy products in the first three months of last year, exports increased to 80 million 180 thousand dollars in the same period this year. Thus, the said export increased by 12.04 percent.
The Chinese factor was effective in this increase. While 14 million 596 thousand dollars were exported to China in total last year, only in the first quarter of this year, 17 million 243 thousand dollars of milk and dairy products exports were recorded.
“Innovation should be given importance to increase product diversity in exports”
Tarık Tezel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Dairy, Meat, Food Industrialists and Producers Association (SETBİR), said that the decrease in exports in 2020 was due to the decline in milk powder exports in general and the mutual quarantine conditions at customs and logistics disruptions in international trade in the first wave of the epidemic.
Stating that products such as cheese varieties, yoghurt and ayran with Turkish taste take place in different tastes on the tables of other countries, Tezel said, “For this reason, spreadable cheeses such as milk powder, whey powder and labneh are among the products we export. We need innovation to increase the product variety in our exports. should be given importance and new products should be created by taking into account consumption habits.” said.
Informing that 77.9 million tons of the total milk production of 860 million tons in the world is subject to international trade, Tezel stated that the European Union, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Belarus, Argentina and Uruguay stand out in the market.
Drawing attention to the fact that raw milk production in Turkey has increased continuously over the years, Tezel said, “We are the 9th in the world in cow milk production. The milk and dairy products industry is ready to increase its exports and the number of countries it trades with by processing this raw milk, with its production technology, capacity and product variety. “Despite the ongoing epidemic all over the world and in our country, we estimate that raw milk production will increase by 4 percent in 2021. We expect our dairy exports to reach 2019 levels again as of the second half of the year, with the epidemic under control.” he said.
Stating that the increase in exports depends on competitiveness, Tezel said:
“A recovery aimed at increasing our competitiveness will only be achieved by achieving the quality-price balance in raw milk. Export supports to be provided in this context will also strengthen our hand. The milk and dairy products sector, despite all conditions, to meet the healthy animal protein needs of our people, to contribute to our country’s exports and to support national development. It strives for the development of the sector, from farm investments to industrial investments, especially from farm investments to industrial investments. Considering the targets of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to increase our milk production to 29 million tons with an increase of 26 percent in 2030, and to increase our red meat production to 2 million tons with an increase of 67 percent, as our exports and competitiveness increase, Our belief in achieving these goals will also increase.”
