News on Potato Stats, Trade, Prices from Turkey

Europatat reports rising Turkish rejections of EU seed potato exports due to testing and classification differences. It urges closer cooperation with Turkish authorities to align inspections with global standards and reduce future trade issues.

Potato harvest has begun in Aksaray, one of Turkey's top 10 provinces for potato production, where 80 percent of the population earns a living from agriculture and animal husbandry. Aksaray ranks first in many areas of animal husbandry in the country.

In 2023, a sharp increase in potato production is expected in Turkey, which is among the top 15 world’s largest exporters of the crop, according to Eastfruit Analysts.

Due to increasing production costs related to the devaluation of the Turkish lira, profit margins of potato growers are declining by the day

Turkey has allowed limited amounts of potato to be imported from Syria to curb skyrocketing prices, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci announced on June 27

Speculation has arisen that Turkey may soon begin to purchase cheaper potatoes from its neighbor Iran.

The humble potato has become a factor in Turkey's political and economic turmoil as prices of the staple soar, hurting the living standards of poorer Turks just before the ruling AK Party's toughest election test in a decade.