Citrus Exports Surge to Record $911.035M in First Half 2026

Data from the Mediterranean Exporters Associations show that Turkish citrus exports in the January‑June 2026 period jumped 76% year‑on‑year to $911.035 million.

Mandarin Dominance and Product Mix

■Mandarin: $532.309 million (58% share)

■Lemon: $213.383 million

■Orange: $110.430 million

■Grapefruit: $54.659 million

■Other citrus products: remainder

Geographic Market Update

■Iraq: $357.289 million

■Russia: $235.615 million

■Ukraine: $47.288 million

■Poland: $41.203 million

■Romania: $36.265 million

Strategic Initiatives and Outlook

■Expect volume growth; flowering conditions are excellent

■Barring temperature shocks or natural disasters, a surplus harvest is anticipated

■Quality improvements are being observed

■Biological control adoption has eliminated residue issues

Fatih Kılıç: The surge in citrus exports underscores the effectiveness of Turkey’s agricultural‑export strategy. The 76% YoY increase reflects not only rising demand but also quality‑focused production and market diversification. Traditional markets such as Iraq and Russia remain dominant, highlighting the need to broaden destination exposure to mitigate regional risks. Mandarin’s dominance points to upstream value‑addition opportunities, while zero‑residue goals and biological controls enhance appeal to sustainability‑conscious buyers. Looking ahead, any production‑driven surplus could pressure prices; exporters should therefore prioritize premium segments that preserve value.