Kazim Tayci, President of Istanbul Cereals, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association (İHBİR), said that Russians invited Turkish companies to invest in Russia and that Turkish companies attracted much attention. Stating that Iranian and Azerbaijani companies imitate the products of successful Turkish companies and reduce the brand perception, Taycı said that they have started a legal struggle, especially against Iranian companies.
Kazim Tayci, President of İHBİR, stated that Azerbaijani and Iranian companies imitate the products of Turkish brands, especially in processed agricultural products, and said, “We receive a lot of complaints from our companies on this issue. The products are made the same up to the logo, and the brand name is similar. Although we have made legal attempts to sanction these companies in Iran, we cannot get results. The Azerbaijan issue is new. We have been having this problem with Iran for 8-9 years. The quality of the products they produce is also very bad. Naturally, it also negatively affects the brand perception.”
Russia, which is among the 56 target countries of Turkish exporters for 2024, became the meeting point of food companies. 97 Turkish companies, including 36 with national participation, participated in PRODEXPO 2024 International Food, Beverage and Food Raw Materials Fair, which was held for the 31st time in Moscow, Russia on February 5-9. Turkey was the country with the highest number of companies participating in the fair, which had 2,145 exhibitors from 40 different countries, after the host Russia. According to TurkStat data, Turkey exported USD 10.9 billion to Russia last year. The rate of increase in exports compared to the previous year was 16.9 percent. This year, Russia was among the target countries to which the Ministry of Trade provided additional support.
Exports to Russia gained momentum
Russia is one of the most important markets for cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products, which is among the most successful sectors with an export increase of 8 percent last year. According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), the sector recorded a 31.8 percent increase in exports to Russia in 2023, exporting USD 307.8 million. Exporters, who anticipate that demand will continue, aim to increase their share in Russia in 2024. The sector, which started 2024 ambitiously in line with the target, exported USD 44.5 million to Russia in January with an increase of 161.1 percent. Russia became the 4th most successful market of the sector.
Russians show their gratitude with orders
Tayci, President of İHBİR, answered the questions of EKONOMİ and evaluated the political and economic relations as follows: “Turkey has very good political, diplomatic and economic relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, we have seen the commercial rewards of this diplomatic success. When many world states turned their backs on Russia, our country’s diplomatic success made about 33 million tons of grain available to all consumers through the grain corridor. There is also gratitude towards us for not turning our backs on the people here. Russian companies showed great interest in the Turkish hall at the fair.”
Underlining that they want to solve the banking problems in trade with Russia, Tayci said, “Russians are more tolerant towards food products. There have been a few minor problems a few times, but not at a level that prevents the trade we are doing. Many of our companies trade with both Russia and the US. Naturally, they are worried that trade with Russia may be a problem for the US and EU countries.” Stating that they were together with a Russian delegation of 10 people before the fair, Tayci said that they received a call to invest in Russia and that the Russians said ‘produce the products here’ and that they would give them all kinds of support.
