Turkish Flavors Expand into the Far East

As part of Türkiye's strategy to focus on value-added markets in fresh fruit, vegetable and processed fruit-vegetable exports, the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association will organize a Sectoral Trade Mission covering Japan and South Korea from 20-29 November 2026.

Under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade and organized by the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, Turkish exporters will hold bilateral business meetings with importers, national retail chains, distributors and leading procurement organizations of the food sector in Seoul and Tokyo.

"Far East holds strategic importance for value-added exports"
Cengiz Balık, Chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, stated that competition in global food trade is no longer based solely on price, but is shaped by quality, reliability and sustainable production criteria, and that Japan and South Korea are among the strongest examples of this transformation.

Emphasizing that the primary goal in exports is to increase the export value per kilogram, Balık noted the following:

"Japan and South Korea are strategic markets for our sector due to their high income levels, demand for quality products and search for reliable suppliers. Turkish producers and exporters have undergone significant transformation in recent years in the areas of quality, food safety, traceability and sustainable production. We now want to capitalize more strongly on this accumulated expertise in Far Eastern markets."

Short-term target USD 100 million, medium-term target USD 200 million
Recalling that fresh fruit, vegetable and processed fruit-vegetable exports to Japan and South Korea in 2025 reached USD 63 million, Balık continued:

"Our short-term goal is to increase this figure to USD 100 million, and in the medium term to USD 200 million. Sectoral trade missions and business partnerships to be established with direct buyers will play an important role in reaching this target."

Japan and South Korea import USD 110 billion in food annually
Pointing out that Japan conducts annual food imports of approximately USD 70 billion and South Korea USD 40 billion, Balık stated that these two markets offer significant opportunities for the Turkish food sector.

"These two countries, which conduct a total of USD 110 billion in food imports and have approximately 175 million inhabitants with high purchasing power, hold great potential for our sector. Türkiye ranks among the world's leading countries in the production of fruit juice, dried tomato, tomato paste, fruit puree, pickles, frozen fruits, canned products and citrus, tomato, cherry, grape, apple, peach, nectarine and pomegranate. By connecting our strong production infrastructure and quality products with new markets, we aim to increase both fresh produce and processed food exports."

Balık invited all sector representatives to participate in the mission to increase awareness of Turkish products in the Japanese and South Korean markets and to establish lasting business relationships.

Applications until 7 July
Company representatives wishing to participate in the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association's South Korea-Japan Sectoral Trade Mission program may apply by 18:00 on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 via [email protected].