Turkey: Citrus Semi-annual

Citrus production in MY 2022/23 decreased for all citrus fruits except tangerines due to freezing weather conditions reaching -7 C during the beginning of the orange blossoming period in March 2022. In MY 2022/23, citrus exports slightly decreased compared to the previous year due to lower foreign demand, political instability due to the Russia-Ukraine war, and transportation and logistics problems. Notably, citrus exporters were severely affected by the earthquake in southeastern Turkiye in March 2023 since roads were closed and cold storage was reallocated for humanitarian assistance. The earthquake region accounts for 57.5 percent of citrus production in Turkey, while the hard-hit province of Hatay realizes 20.8 percent of this production alone; lemons were especially affected. Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Poland, and Romania are the main export markets for Turkiye,