On March 7, after a month-long disruption due to the yearly quota limit, Turkish tomato exports to Russia have resumed. Moscow decided to lift the yearly quote from 150,000 MT to 200,000 MT after some containers carrying Turkish tomatoes were returned last month, saying that the quotas were already met.
“We exported 98,000 MT of tomatoes to Russia in 2019. Turkish exporters can send 50,000 MT [of tomatoes] in a couple of months. Thus, we want the quote to be removed completely,” said Hayrettin Uçak, chairman of the Aegean Union of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters.
Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli are in talks with their Russian counterparts to lift the quotes in bilateral trade and they expect the trade diplomacy to bear fruits in the upcoming months, said Uçak.
Turkey’s tomato exports to Russia increased 181% in 2019, bringing the country a total of $74.5 million.
In January 2016, after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet violating its airspace, Russia banned imports of Turkish fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, oranges, apples, apricots, cabbage, broccoli, mandarins, pears, peaches, cucumbers, plums, strawberries, onions, cloves, and poultry.
Russia relaxed these trade sanctions during the summer of 2017.