According to Turkish Exporters Assembly data, fresh fruit and vegetable exports topped $2 billion for the first time ever in a first half, reaching $2.35 billion in January-June 2026 — on lower tonnage than the year before.
According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) data, fresh fruit and vegetable exports crossed the $2 billion mark in a first half for the first time in the sector's history. Turkish exporters earned $2,353,915,000 (roughly $2.35 billion) in the January-June 2026 period, shipping 1,722,572 tonnes of produce. That's a 39% increase in revenue over the same period the previous year.
The numbers at a glance
| Metric | H1 2026 | Year-on-Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total export revenue | $2.35 billion | +39% |
| Total shipment volume | 1.72 million tonnes | −100,000 tonnes |
| Fresh fruit | $757.5 million | +38% |
| Fresh vegetables | $667.7 million | +10% |
| Citrus | $911 million | +76% |
| Market #1: Iraq | $601.1 million | — |
| Market #2: Russia | $568.4 million | — |
Less tonnage, more revenue
The most striking part of the figures isn't volume growth at all. Exporters shipped 100,000 tonnes less produce than in the same period last year, yet earned $700 million more doing it.
That's the first-half data giving concrete shape to a trend we've covered in our 2026 industry overview: export capacity is expanding far faster than production, and rising unit prices largely reflect tighter grading and better-documented quality. The same tonnage fetching a higher price is a sign that buyers are now paying not just for volume, but for recognized quality classes like Extra and Class I and a consistent shipping standard.
Citrus remains the sector's engine
Fresh fruit exports grew 38% to $757.5 million, while fresh vegetable exports rose 10% to $667.7 million. Fruit's growth rate running at nearly four times that of vegetables shows citrus is still doing the heavy lifting during the winter months.
Citrus took the largest share of all: exports grew 76% to reach $911 million, accounting for roughly 39% of total fresh fruit and vegetable exports. A single product group making up this much of total exports means the winter season contributes disproportionately more to export revenue than the summer season does.
Iraq and Russia: the two leading markets
Iraq was the top destination in the first half at $601.1 million, followed by Russia at $568.4 million. Together, these two markets alone account for roughly a quarter of total exports — geographic proximity and short overland and sea transit times make both countries a natural priority for a shelf-life-limited category like fresh produce.
Leading products
According to Aegean Exporters' Association (EİB) data, the most-exported fresh products in the first half of 2026 were cherry, tomato, mandarin, and peach. That ranking shows up in concrete regional figures too: the Aegean region's own cherry exports reached $49 million, tomato exports reached $51 million, and mandarin exports reached $11.4 million.
The Aegean region's total fresh fruit and vegetable exports grew 2% to reach $572 million in the first half, shipped to 128 countries. That regional breakdown is a reminder that the national totals aren't the output of a single hub — they're the sum of several exporting regions, each with its own product mix.
The road to the year-end target
The industry's full-year 2026 target is cited at around $4.5 billion. The $2.35 billion earned in the first half represents roughly half of that figure, so a second half performing at a similar pace would put the sector on track to reach it.
Citrus is harvested mainly during the winter months (November-March), which typically makes the second half of the year stronger than the first. That seasonality suggests the first-half numbers are tracking consistently with the year-end goal rather than falling behind it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much did fresh fruit and vegetable exports reach in the first half of 2026?
According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) data, fresh fruit and vegetable exports reached $2,353,915,000 (roughly $2.35 billion) in the January-June 2026 period, a 39% increase over the same period the previous year — the first time the sector has topped $2 billion in a first half.
Which two markets received the most exports in the first half?
Iraq was the top destination at $601.1 million, followed by Russia at $568.4 million — together, these two markets account for roughly a quarter of total exports.
Is the export revenue increase only a result of selling more produce?
No — exporters shipped 100,000 tonnes less produce than the same period the previous year, yet earned $700 million more doing it. Growth is being driven by rising unit prices and tighter quality grading, not sheer volume.
Which fresh products were exported the most in the first half of 2026?
According to Aegean Exporters' Association (EİB) data, the most-exported products were cherry, tomato, mandarin, and peach; in the Aegean region specifically, cherry exports reached $49 million, tomato $51 million, and mandarin $11.4 million.