Turkey earned $1.36bn (£1.03bn) from exporting 721,858 tonnes of fresh fruit in the first nine months of 2026, according to data compiled from the Turkish Exporters Assembly.
In January-September last year, 650,042 tonnes brought in $918.6m. Volumes rose 11 per cent and value 48 per cent.
Peaches, cherries, apricots, apples, pomegranates and figs were among the fruits shipped abroad.
Peaches were the top earner at $373.3m, followed by cherries and sour cherries at $240.2m and apricots at $166.2m. Exports of peaches rose 137 per cent, cherries and sour cherries 403 per cent and apricots 95 per cent.
Turkey exported 211,582 tonnes of peaches, 70,239 tonnes of cherries and sour cherries and 74,510 tonnes of apricots.
Apples brought in $100m, pomegranates $97.7m and figs $88.5m. Plum exports rose 106 per cent to $77.8m.
Iraq was the biggest market at $414.4m, up 78 per cent. Russia followed with $393.4m, up 64 per cent, and Germany with $158.8m, up 63 per cent.
Hayrettin Ucak, head of the Turkish Fruit and Vegetable Products Exporters’ Associations sector board, said Turkey’s varied climate allowed a wide range of produce.
“Our sector’s exports are growing every year,” he said. “The increase achieved in the first nine months pleases us. Peaches, cherries and apricots were our standout products in this period.”
He said the aim was to strengthen ties with existing markets and customers while taking Turkish fruit to new ones.
“Preserving the product’s quality from the orchard until it reaches the consumer is of great importance,” Mr Ucak said. “We must show the same care at every link in the chain, from production to packaging, transport and marketing. It is important for our producers and exporters to work together for continued export success.”