Türkiye’s seed exports surge 31% in 2025, led by tomato, cucumber, and pepper

Türkiye, which has established itself as a seed-exporting country, continues to send large quantities of tomato, pepper, and cucumber seeds to international markets, particularly Russia, China, Spain, Morocco, and India.

Western Mediterranean Exporters Association President Umit Mirza Cavusoglu told Turkish news agency Anadolu that Türkiye has reached a strong position in seed production, meeting domestic demand while steadily growing exports.

“Seed exports increase each year while imports decrease,” Cavusoglu said. “There is the highest demand for tomato, cucumber, and pepper seeds. Compared to the January–November period of last year, exports of tomato, pepper, and cucumber seeds increased by 31 percent in the same period this year.”

A visitor examines tomatoes displayed in wooden crates at Growtech Antalya Fair, Antalya, Türkiye, accessed on Dec. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)

Tomato, cucumber, and pepper seed exports surging

According to Cavusoglu, tomato seed exports totaled $16.3 million in the first 11 months of last year and rose to $20.8 million in the same period of 2025.

Cucumber seed exports reached $9 million this year, up from $7.1 million in the same period last year. Pepper seed exports increased from $3.7 million to $5.7 million.

In total, Türkiye exported $27.2 million worth of tomato, cucumber, and pepper seeds from January to November last year. This figure rose to $35.6 million in the same period of 2025.

Cavusoglu added that Türkiye’s tomato seeds were primarily exported to Russia, Morocco, and Spain; cucumber seeds to Iran, China, and India; and pepper seeds to Morocco, India, and Spain.

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Growtech Antalya Fair highlights Türkiye’s global role

Growtech Antalya Fair Director Engin Er said Antalya has become a global hub for agricultural innovation, with the event bringing together 725 company representatives from 36 countries.

Er said more than 40,000 people from Türkiye and 135 other countries visited the fair this year. Many companies secured a year’s worth of orders during the event.

“Türkiye ranks 7th in the world and 1st in Europe in crop production,” Er said. “This is a significant scale, but production must become more efficient. Water is decreasing day by day. It is necessary to attend such fairs to see more efficient production methods, because farmers are convinced by seeing and touching the product.”

Er emphasized that efficient production adds value to agriculture and noted the increasing average age of workers in the sector. “Agriculture must be introduced more strongly to younger generations,” he said.

He also pointed out that Türkiye’s seed exports are growing steadily while imports decline. “Until the last five years, Türkiye was an importer of seeds. Seeds were imported from many countries. Now those imports have significantly decreased. Over the last five years, we have become a net exporter. Especially in vegetable and fruit seeds, Turkish seed production now exports to the entire world.”

Er reiterated that in vegetable seeds, tomato, pepper, and cucumber seeds remain Türkiye’s top export products globally.

December 08, 2025 05:00 AM GMT+03:00