Bulgur: Turkey dominates EU market

December 21, 2023 at 11:37 AM , Der AUDITOR
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ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS. EU importers heavily rely on Turkey for bulgur. Exports are going well for Turkey.

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Turkey’s grain exports reached USD 11 billion in January-November, which is 9% up on the same period last year as official trade statistics show. Annual bulgur production ranges at 1 million mt, of which an average of 250,000 mt are exported mainly to the Middle East, Africa and the EU along with the USA. For the EU Turkey is an exclusive supplier providing 98% of all imports. Shipments from other origins such as Ukraine, Lebanon or Syria are nearly negligible compared with the volumes imported from Turkey. EU imports peaked at 55,036 mt in 2020 and have now risen to the second largest volume on record. At 49,718 mt they are 4% up on last year.

In terms of value imports have, however, climbed to an absolute record of EUR 44 million (USD 48 million), which is 16% up on the EUR 38 million (USD 41 million) recorded in 2022. Germany is the main importing country within the EU and accounts for 29% of all shipments or 14,560 mt, followed by the Netherlands with 25% (12,430 mt) and France with 12% (6,170 mt).

Bulgur, EU imports (mt)

Country

2022

2023

Diff.

Turkey

46,687

48,815

4.5%

Ukraine

550

448

-18.6%

Lebanon

143

217

51.7%

Syria

63

68

7.9%

Iraq

3

63

2,000%

USA

18

42

133.3%

Brazil

22

24

9.0%

Russia

4

8

100%

UK

55

7

-87.3%

Iran

3

5

66.7%

Others

227

21

-90.8%

Total

47,775

49,718

4.1%

Provisional data, DG TAXUD Customs Surveillance, 01/01-17/12
HS Code 19043000 Bulgur wheat in the form of worked grains, obtained by cooking hard wheat grains

 

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