Turkey temporarily suspends lemon exports due to weather conditions

Turkey will temporarily suspend the export of lemons from April 8, 2025 due to adverse weather conditions in citrus harvest regions and the need to meet domestic demand, Ilkha news agency reported, citing a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Trade.

“The export of lemons has been temporarily suspended from April 8, 2025. This decision was made to protect domestic demand and ensure supply stability after the cold weather and frosts observed throughout the country,” the Turkish ministry said in a statement. According to the Ministry of Trade, frosts have recently been recorded in the Mediterranean provinces of Adana, Mersin and Hatay.

The decision to suspend exports was agreed with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The ministry noted that additional measures may be taken if necessary to stabilize the situation. According to Anadolu Agency, in 2024, Turkey exported 1 million 639 thousand tons of citrus fruits, which brought the country $ 1 billion 46 million 128 thousand in revenue.

The suspension of lemon exports from Turkey, which is one of the key suppliers of citrus fruits to Ukraine, is likely to lead to an increase in lemon prices on the Ukrainian market. In 2024, Ukraine imported Turkish lemons worth $ 108 million, making it the third largest importing country after Russia and Iraq.

Tags: restrictions, Turkey