Turkey is an attractive destination for exporting beans, sesame and other legumes, according to a study by Apex-Brasil

A study produced by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) points out export opportunities to Turkey for Brazilian companies that produce beans and dried legumes. Demand is growing and, therefore, this is the sector with the greatest export potential.

Turkey imported more than US$850 million in 2020, with lentils representing around 40% of the total. The trend towards healthier lifestyles may have influenced the increase in demand for organic pulses, triggering a greater number of manufacturers of these products in the sector.

"Geographical distance is not an obstacle for Brazilian companies to enter the Turkish market. It is expected that Brazil will become a supplier with a greater presence in Turkey given the opportunities and favorable scenario", points out Carla Carvalho, Intelligence analyst at Apex-Brasil . Among the opportunities for Brazilian companies in Turkey, sesame and black-eyed peas are the most relevant. Currently, Turkey is considered a major producer of beans, but not sesame.

The good news for the exporter is that the products are relevant and in demand in the market. Sesame, for example, is an ingredient used mainly by local industries to produce traditional foods such as tahini and halva, which are also exported to other countries in the Middle East and Arab regions. In total, the latest market record reveals that Brazil exported US$25,6 million of the ingredient to Vietnam, Guatemala and Turkey.

Brazil is the 11th largest supplier of sesame to Turkey. One of the factors that favors sales is the low price, considered the lowest among the 11 main suppliers in the region.

In relation to black-eyed peas, imports reached US﹩ 110 million in 2020. Brazil's main competitor in relation to this product is Argentina. Demand for black-eyed peas has grown strongly in the last four years, despite consumption being predominantly white beans, which are produced locally. Consumers' search for healthy alternatives led to the inclusion of colored grains in the beans category, which are mostly imported products. Thus, the growth in demand for black-eyed peas went from US$47 million in 2017 to US$110 million in 2020.

According to the study, the Brazilian states that most export these products are Mato Grosso, Paraná, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.