According to Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), ornamental plants achieved the largest proportional increase in overall exports last year. The Netherlands has been the top export market for Turkish flowers.
The ornamental plants sector in Turkey increased its exports by 30.5% in January compared to the same period last year and exported products to 46 countries. This increase marked the highest proportional increase among other sectors.
In January, Turkey exported 11,024,000 USD (10,170,000 Euro) worth of ornamental plants and products. Only five years ago, this number was 6,380,000 USD (5,890,000 Euro). This means that the sector increased exports by 72.8% over the past five years. The export volume of ornamental plants and products in January was 4.589 tons.
The most exported sub-group was potted plants with 7.3 million USD (6.7 million Euro) worth of exports. This was followed by cut flowers with 3.5 million USD (3.2 million Euro), seaweed flowers and tree branches with 244,000 USD (225,000 Euro) and flower bulbs with 4,200 USD (3,875 Euro).
The Netherlands top importer of Turkish flowers
The Netherlands imported 2.6 million USD (2.4 million Euro) worth of ornamental plants from Turkey which marked an increase by 40.9% compared to the same period last year.
Azerbaijan followed the Netherlands with an import of 1.6 million USD (1.48 million Euro) and an increase by 16.8%. Uzbekistan was third largest importer of Turkish flowers with 1.5 million USD (1.38 million Euro). In January 2019, there was no ornamental plants exports to Uzbekistan. These countries were followed by Germany with 1.3 million USD (1.2 million Euro) worth of imports and Turkmenistan with 1.2 million USD (1.1 million Euro).
In the first month of the year, Turkey exported ornamental plants and products to 46 countries. Besides Uzbekistan, Turkey exported ornamental plants and products this January to Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Morocco, Norway and Israel.
However, Portugal, Algeria, South Africa, Belgium, Egypt and Serbia who imported Turkish ornamental plants did not import any this January.
Antalya is the leader in exports
In January, the city of Antalya increased its exports by 12.9% and exported 4.7 million USD (4.34 million Euro) worth of ornamental plants and products.
Antalya is followed by Izmir with 1.7 million USD (1.57 million Euro) worth of exports and Bursa with 925,000 USD (853,000 Euro) worth of exports. Adana was forth with 523,000 USD (482,000 Euro) worth of exports. Overall 22 cities in Turkey exported ornamental plants and products in the same month.
Source: AA