Egypt Expands Frozen Strawberry Exports to Turkey

EastFruit analysts highlight the sharp increase in Egypt’s exports of frozen strawberries to Turkey.

Egyptian exporters delivered nearly 30,000 tons of frozen strawberries to the Turkish market in the first nine months of this year, valued at USD 35 million. This volume is already 2.5 times higher than total exports for the entire previous year, and 1.5 times greater than the combined shipments of frozen berries to Turkey over the past five years.

Turkey is among the world’s leading producers of fresh strawberries. However, until recently, frozen berry production in the country remained underdeveloped and played only a secondary role.

Driven by the rapid growth of the HoReCa sector, yogurt and confectionery industries, and exports of processed foods, demand for frozen berries in Turkey has surged in recent years. This has led to a significant expansion of freezing capacity. Between 2023 and 2025, dozens of new IQF and freeze-dry lines were commissioned in Turkey. As a result, domestic consumption of fresh strawberries has risen sharply, as reflected in declining exports for the fifth consecutive year despite increasing production.

Also see: Egypt Boosts Strawberry Exports to Germany, Hits Five-Year High

Nevertheless, demand for frozen berries continues to outpace domestic supply, forcing Turkey to boost imports. Within just 1.5–2 years, the country has become a major net importer of frozen strawberries. Egypt has emerged as the leading supplier, capitalizing on its geographic proximity and competitive pricing.

Consequently, Turkey has shifted from being a secondary market to one of Egypt’s key destinations for frozen strawberries. After nine months, Turkey ranks sixth among importers of Egyptian products, with its share of Egypt’s frozen strawberry exports approaching 5%.

It is also worth noting that Egypt is rapidly expanding frozen strawberry exports to Southeast Asian markets.