While the Turkish food industry took its place with 51 companies at the Foodex Japan Fair, whose Turkish National Participation Organization was organized by the Aegean Exporters' Association, the Turkish pavilion was among the country pavilions that were most admired by the Japanese.
Explaining that they built a special stand at the Foodex Fair with products in which Turkey is strong, Işık said, “This year, we increased the number of participants at the Foodex Fair from 39 to 51, and enlarged the Turkey stand by 40 percent. At the stand where we exhibited the products in which we are strong, we gave directions to buyers at which stands they could find these products. We received a lot of appreciation from visitors. We also increased the number of visitors to our stands. We designed our stands in a more product-oriented, spacious and brighter way. We expanded the tasting area and turned it into an attraction center. We have reached today's level in the Japanese market in 30 years, but we will grow faster in the future. They have become a market that accepts Turkish products. We export a wide range of products, from pasta to seedless raisins, from fish to olive oil, from fruit and vegetable products to thirsty products. In the medium term, we will be in a position to export food products worth 1 billion dollars. As part of the Foodex Japan Fair, we held a reception at the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Turkey-Japan political relations. Many Japanese buyers, especially the buyers of Aeon, one of Japan's largest grocery chains, attended this reception. It was a very productive meeting. "We would like to thank Turkey's Ambassador to Tokyo Korkut Güngen, our Tokyo Chief Commercial Counselor Mukaddes Nur Yılmaz and our Commercial Counselor Güzide Zeynep Karahisarlı for their unique hosting," he said.
“WE ARE IN TOKYO FOR HEALTHY JAPANESE GENERATIONS”
Emphasizing that the Japanese people love the consumption of fish and animal products, Bedri Girit, President of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters Association, said that there is an imbalance in protein consumption in the world and that, as the Turkish aquaculture and animal products sector, they aim to make a positive contribution to eliminating the negativity in countries with protein deficit.
Sharing the information that the aquatic products and animal products sector is the leading sector in the export of food products from Turkey to Japan with an amount of 2024 million dollars in the January-February period of 49, Girit said, “The positive effect of animal proteins on brain and heart functions has been demonstrated by many studies conducted by scientists.” has been revealed. We came to Japan from Turkey, 11 thousand kilometers away, to raise smarter and healthier generations. "We want to establish long-term cooperation with Japan," he said.
“WE CAN WIN JAPANESE IMPORTERS WITH HIGH QUALITY AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTS”
Underlining that Japanese importers are very loyal to their suppliers, Muhammet Öztürk, President of the Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, said that the Japanese do not change the suppliers they work with as long as they are satisfied, their priorities are quality and strong ties, and Turkish exporters strengthen their position in the Japanese market with quality products, different products and a different story. touched on what they could strengthen.
Expressing that the 2023 million dollar export of the Turkish grains, pulses and oilseeds sector to Japan, which exported 12,4 billion dollars in 100, is very low, Öztürk continued his words as follows; “The majority of the visitors at the Foodex Fair were qualified buyers, they came to the fair to make purchases. Japan is a large market of 120 million people. It's far, but if we work hard, it can be done. While the biggest export item of our industry is pasta, we can highlight confectionery products. Laurel, thyme, sesame and poppy seeds stood out as products with which we can increase our exports.”
“JAPAN IS A VERY STRONG MARKET FOR OUR OLIVE OIL EXPORTS”
Explaining that there is a lot of interest in Turkish olive oil in Japan, Davut Er, President of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Association, stated that Spain and Italy have become difficult to respond to Japan's demands in recent years, and that the Japanese have high demand for all product ranges of the Turkish olive oil sector.
Emphasizing that the strong structure of historical and cultural ties between Japan and Turkey supports the increase in trade between the two countries, Er said, “Entering the market in Japan and establishing trust is a long process, patience is required. It's a very conservative society when it comes to continuing with the same customer once you catch his taste. We need to evaluate these features well. The devaluation that came after 30 years made the Japanese sensitive to price as well as quality. As Türkiye, we can turn this into an opportunity. 51 of the 12 food companies from Turkey participating in the Foodex Fair are exporters operating in the olive oil sector. Our olive oil sector accounts for 10 percent of Turkey's food exports. Our olive oil exports to Japan increased by 2023 percent to 57 million dollars in 27. We have established connections that can raise this figure much higher in the coming period. “Our goal will be to increase this figure to 100 million dollars in the medium term.” He summarized his words by saying.
“JAPANESE ARE TRYING TO FIGHT WITH INFLATION RISING TO 3 PERCENT”
Reminding that the promotional activities of the Turkish food industry in the Japanese market go back many years, Turkish Exporters Assembly Board Member Birol Celep noted that they have signed a TURQUALITY Project in the Japanese market in the past years, and that they have decided to launch a new TURQUALITY Project for Japan in the coming period.
Stating that Japan experienced 30 percent annual inflation following the FED's interest policy after nearly 3 years of negative inflation, Celep said that they observed that 3 percent inflation negatively affects the living standards of the Japanese. Celep concluded his words as follows; “The depreciation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar reduced the purchasing power of the Japanese. In this process, the Japanese want to direct their food imports from the United States and China to Turkey. Exporting to Japan is also a prestige for Turkish food exporters. Our young exporters should act accordingly. We are looking for a market that will sell quality, value-added and sustainability-oriented products. Japan is a very suitable market for this. Tokyo is a location where there are many Michelin-listed restaurants around the world and where quality food products are consumed. They want to get value for money with quality products. Our duty is to respond to these demands.”
FOOD EXPORTS TO JAPAN INCREASED BY 2024 PERCENT IN 42
Turkey's food exports to Japan increased by 2024 percent from 42 million dollars to 69 million dollars in the two-month period of 98.
While the aquaculture and animal products sector was the leader in exports to Japan with exports of 49 million dollars, the grains, pulses and oilseeds sector came in second with an amount of 18 million dollars. The dried fruit sector increased its exports from 114 million dollars to 5,2 million dollars with an increase of 11,2 percent and managed to become the export record holder.
In the same period, Turkey's total exports to Japan increased by 20 percent, from 121 million dollars to 146 million dollars. The food industry managed to exceed the 67 percent threshold for the first time, with a 50 percent share of exports from Turkey to Japan.
The Turkish food industry increased its exports to Japan from 5 million dollars to 72 million dollars, an increase of 164 percent in the last 282 years. In the past 5 years, Japan's food imports increased by 17 percent, from 62 billion dollars to 73,6 billion dollars.
THERE WERE LONG QUEUES AT OSMAN SERDAROGLU'S TASTING EVENT
Our Michelin-starred Turkish chef Osman Serdaroğlu brought together Turkey's flavors with his own recipes at the Turkey pavilion at the Foodex Japan Fair and presented them to the Japanese and visitors from all over the world. Japanese people formed long queues to taste the flavors on Serdaroğlu's menu. Chef Osman Serdaroğlu added great power to the Turkey pavilion at the Foodex Japan Fair.
During Foodex Japan Fair; Tasting events were held for sushi and sashimi made with Turkish salmon and tuna, as well as our olive oil and Turkish Wines. During the olive oil tasting, Seiko Funahashi from the Japanese Olive Oil Sommeliers Association gave seminars introducing Turkish olive oils and had Turkish olive oils tasted.
Aegean Exporters' Associations organized bilateral business meetings to increase food exports from Turkey to Japan at the Foodex Fair. At the event, 51 Turkish companies held around 165 meetings with 750 Japanese importers. Turkish companies got a lot of results from B2B meetings.
