Türkiye’s flour exports rebound as Syria becomes top market for the first time in 15 years

TÜRKIYE – Türkiye’s flour sector regained momentum in the final quarter of the year, supported by a sharp rise in exports and a notable shift in destination markets, according to the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Eurasia.

The association reported that flour exports increased by 39% in October to reach 241,000 tons, marking one of the strongest monthly performances of 2025.

Between January and October, Türkiye exported 1.93 million tons of flour, with export revenues totaling US$ 716 million.

IAOM Eurasia President Eren Gunhan Ulusoy said the industry is on track to close the year with approximately 2.4 million tons of flour exports, reinforcing Türkiye’s status as one of the world’s leading flour suppliers.

A major development for the industry this year has been the shift in Türkiye’s top export destinations.

Ulusoy highlighted that, for the first time in 15 years, Iraq lost its position as the leading buyer of Turkish flour.

“As of July, Iraq had lost its top spot for the first time in 15 years, and Syria had become Türkiye’s top flour export destination,” he said.

The change is tied to structural adjustments in Iraq’s grain processing sector. Investments in new milling capacity coupled with a revised tariff mechanism significantly reduced Türkiye’s market share.

According to IAOM Eurasia, Türkiye’s 10-month average exports to Iraq, previously around 1 million tons, fell steeply to about 350,000 tons this year.

In contrast, demand from Syria has grown steadily. Türkiye’s flour exports to Syria increased from 267,000 tons in 2023 to 326,000 tons in 2024.

The pace accelerated even further this year, with 529,000 tons delivered in the first 10 months alone.

“While we exported 529,000 tons to Syria in the first 10 months, we aim to export 650,000 tons by the end of the year. Thus, our exports to Syria will double,” Ulusoy stated.

Syria’s expanding demand is being driven by post-conflict reconstruction needs, rising wheat deficits, and the country’s heavy reliance on imported processed grain products.

For Turkish millers, Syria’s growing demand has softened the impact of weakening exports to Iraq and supported factory utilization rates during the year’s final quarter.

The sector’s strong performance also reflects Türkiye’s ongoing strategy to sustain export competitiveness through capacity upgrades, quality improvements, and wider market diversification.

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