Turkey’s short-lived ban on lemon exports helped Egypt boost revenues • EastFruit

In recent months, according to EastFruit analysts, the global lemon market has experienced significant price increases, driven by export restrictions and escalating demand. Notably, Turkey’s decision to halt lemon exports has had a profound impact on international prices.

Turkey’s export ban and its implications

On April 8, 2025, Turkey announced a suspension of lemon exports to stabilize domestic markets and ensure local availability. This move has disrupted supply chains, leading importing countries to seek alternative sources. Although a day later the decision to ban exports has been removed, the market remained very bullish.

Egypt’s response: sharp price increases

In response to Turkey’s export ban, Egyptian lemon exporters have significantly raised their prices. “Export prices surged from $900 per ton to $1,250 per ton within a week on EastFruit Trade platform”, says Oleksandr Ukrainets, International Consultant of FAO. “This is a 38.9% increase. Later in the same day, prices climbed to $1,330 per ton, marking an additional $80 hike. Comparatively, during the same period last year, Egypt’s export price was $550 per ton, indicating a 141.8% year-over-year increase”, ads Oleksandr Ukrainets. He says that after the cancellation of the export ban on April 9, prices came down to $1,330 per ton without a sign for further reduction to pre-ban levels.

Domestic market fluctuations

Prices in the domestic markets in Turkey and Egypt have been growing even before the export ban announcement. In Turkey, wholesale lemon prices rose from $0.66/kg in early March to $1.06/kg, with current prices ranging between $0.53/kg and $1.45/kg. A year ago, the range was $0.16/kg to $0.41/kg, reflecting substantial growth.

In Cairo’s wholesale markets, prices increased from $0.18/kg in early March to $0.38/kg. Currently, prices hover between $0.36/kg and $0.40/kg, compared to $0.04/kg to $0.08/kg during the same period last year but, according to EastFruit, sharp increase in domestic prices is inevitable.

“Even though Turkey eventually decided against banning lemon exports, prices are unlikely to decline significantly,” says Yevhen Kuzin, FAO Horticultural Market Analyst. “Lemon prices remain high across Europe, and they traditionally tend to rise towards the end of the season in the Northern Hemisphere.”

He also notes that in Poland, wholesale lemon prices have reached an all-time high, increasing by 21% over the past four weeks to reach $1.9 per kg.

Read also: Unique Uzbek lemons, previously banned in the USA, conquer Japan!

Ripple effects in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has also experienced rising lemon prices, with rates escalating from $0.86/kg in early March to $1.82/kg—a 111.6% increase.

Will Egypt follow Turkey and restrict lemon exports?

Egypt has a recent history of restricting or limiting exports of products, if they become too expensive for local consumers according to the government’s vision. Expected increase of domestic lemon prices will certainly get noticed and could cause the government to follow an example of Turkey in banning lemon exports.

Russia is in trouble

Russia is by far the largest buyers of lemons from Egypt and Turkey and these price hikes could cause significant problems for the local consumers, which have reportedly already decreased consumption of fruits due to high inflation denting into their disposable incomes. It will also impact lemon prices in the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, in the Eastern part of the EU.