Exports of Turkish pasta.

Turkey's pasta producers aim to gradually increase the export volume of this food product by the end of the current year. In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce is striving to coordinate and negotiate with the European Union to raise the export quotas imposed by the EU on Turkey for pasta.

The challenging economic situation, the decline in citizens' purchasing power domestically, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the normalization of Turkey's relations with Saudi Arabia are some of the factors contributing to the growth of the pasta consumer market. The Turkish aim to seize this opportunity to boost the export of this relatively inexpensive food compared to other products.

In Turkey, pasta is produced from two types of raw materials: durum wheat and bread wheat. The reduced export of bread wheat due to the Ukraine-Russia war has created a situation where Turkish pasta can enter international markets at a more competitive price and significantly increase its export volume.

In 2021, Turkey's pasta exports amounted to 1.37 million tons, generating an income of 780 million dollars, sent to 160 different countries around the world.

With a 3% increase in its pasta exports, Turkey became the second-largest pasta exporter in the world after Italy. The country managed to earn 379 million and 503 thousand dollars by exporting over 731 thousand tons of pasta to African countries.

An overview of Turkey's various target markets for pasta exports reveals that South American countries follow with 218 thousand tons, Asian countries with 98 thousand tons, and Middle Eastern countries with 64 thousand tons. Last year, Turkey's pasta exports to EU countries were 18 thousand tons.

The pasta production industry has created employment for 50 thousand people, both directly and indirectly, in the country.

Source: Turkish Pasta Industrialists Association (TMSD)