TİM: TABLE OLIVE EXPORTS REACHED TO 142 MILLION DOLLARS

Turkey's table olive exports in the 2018-2019 season soared by 11 percent to 142 million dollars, compared to the previous season, according to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TİM).

Turkey sold 91,000 tons of table olives, worth 142.1 million dollars, to more than 100 countries from Oct. 1, 2018, the start of the export season, to Sept. 30, 2019.

Turkey had exported olives worth 127 million dollars in the previous period. This season's olive exports increased by 11 percent compared to the previous season, while the rate of increase based on quantity was 34 percent.

EU countries bought more than half of Turkey's table olives in the remaining season. About 80 million dollars of olive exports worth 142 million dollars, around 56 percent, was carried out to 22 EU countries.

The largest amount of olive went to Germany valued at 35 million dollars, followed by Iraq at 25 million dollars and Romania at 20 million dollars.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Akhisar Chamber of Commerce Chairman Alper Alhat said they are the largest table olive producer in Turkey with more than 14 million olive trees.

He said they account for 35 percent of Turkey's black olive production and 70 percent of green olive production.

"Yield in Akhisar is slightly lower than in other regions. Nevertheless, we have had the best quality olives in the last decade," Alhat said.

He added that they are increasing exports of table olive every year. "The main issue is quality," he said and stressed the need to turn to packaged Turkish products.

Alhat said he believes that the support premium provided to table olives will help the producers and exporters. "The state will increase its premium support of TL 0.15 per kilogram, which may seem low, once they see manufacturers and exporters putting it to good use. We have experienced in olive oil exports. The premium support of TL 0.7 has now become TL 0.8. We believe the support for olives will increase too."