Turkey raises zero-duty grain import quotas to 1M tons amid market pressures
Producers fear that a wave of duty-free imports could depress farmgate prices just as new-season barley and corn enter the domestic market.
TÜRKIYE – Turkey moved to bolster supply security and rein in feed costs last week by raising its zero-duty import quotas for barley and corn to 1 million tonnes each, a significant increase from the previous 700,000-tonne ceiling.
The decision, published on November 8, 2025, in the Official Gazette through a Presidential Decree, authorises the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) to import the additional volumes without customs duties.
The Ministry of Trade said the quota expansion seeks to meet domestic demand, curb speculative pricing and reduce input costs for livestock producers.
The government has repeatedly relied on tariff-free imports during the past year as global grain volatility and higher feed prices strained local markets.
The new regulation takes effect immediately and applies solely to imports conducted within the approved quota. No duty levels were specified in local currency, and therefore no conversions to US dollars were required.
Domestic industry voices concern
While the government argues the measure is necessary to stabilise prices, farm groups responded with alarm, particularly given its timing.
“The implementation caused concern among farmers because it coincided with the period just before the local harvest,” said Mutlu Doğru, President of the Adana Farmers’ Union.
Producers fear that a wave of duty-free imports could depress farmgate prices just as new-season barley and corn enter the domestic market.
Turkey’s barley sector is highly sensitive to such policies, as production fluctuates widely owing to drought. Much of the country’s barley is dry-farmed, leaving yields exposed to increasingly erratic rainfall patterns.
In years when drought reduces output, Turkey relies heavily on imports to balance supply and temper price increases.
Even though carryover stocks have helped buffer the market, tight availability and strong demand have elevated domestic prices and triggered government intervention through quota increases and TMO purchasing tenders.
Balancing supply and demand
Corn markets face similar pressures. Turkey produces between 7.1 and 8.1 million tonnes of corn in a typical year, with the 2025/26 harvest forecast at around 7.9 million tonnes.
Yet national consumption, driven largely by the expanding poultry industry, is projected to reach between 9.5 and 9.8 million tonnes in 2025/26. The gap has made the country a consistent net importer, sourcing heavily from Ukraine and Russia.
Officials maintain that expanded quotas will help ensure adequate supply as the feed sector absorbs rising consumption volumes.
The Ministry of Trade said the measure forms part of a broader strategy to “meet domestic demand, prevent speculative pricing, and especially reduce the basic input costs of the livestock sector.”
However, farmers argue that relying on large-scale imports risks undermining domestic production capacity.
Market analysts note that if quotas remain high for extended periods, producers may cut back on planting, potentially deepening dependence on foreign supply.
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