Mersin Tops Türkiye's Citrus Exports With 46.7% Share: $325.6 Million and 288,000 Tonnes Shipped in Q1 2026
Mersin, the city responsible for 46.7% of Türkiye's citrus exports, kept its lead in Q1 2026 with shipments worth $325.6 million. According to data from the Mediterranean Exporters Association (AKİB), Türkiye's January-March citrus exports totalled 638,442 tonnes generating $697,678,706 in foreign exchange. A year earlier, Mersin's Q1 share was $201,344,330; this year's figure is more than 62% higher.
Mersin contributed 46.7% of citrus export value in the period and shipped 288,056 tonnes abroad. The Q1 2026 ranking after Mersin was: Şırnak $109,110,793, Hatay $96,445,553, Adana $76,311,204, and Gaziantep $19,449,981. Şırnak ranking second highlights the importance of overland citrus shipments via Türkiye's eastern border crossings into Iraq and the wider Gulf.
Kemal Kaçmaz, Chair of Türkiye's National Citrus Council, said citrus production stretches along the coast from Hatay to İzmir but Mersin leads on both sides of the equation: "Mersin International Port keeps Mersin in the export lead. Some of what's produced here is also shipped through Şırnak and other provinces, so Mersin leads in both production and export. Citrus has become a way of life for the people of Mersin and contributes hugely to the economy. Mersin is recognised worldwide as the capital of citrus." Kaçmaz added that the city has rolled out the "Plant Prescription" (B-Reçete) programme for fresh fruit and vegetables to meet farm-to-fork food safety requirements, putting all production under controlled traceability.
From a supply chain perspective the data sends three signals. First, Mersin International Port (MIP), with reefer container capacity and direct Mediterranean shipping services, is the critical infrastructure node for citrus moving to European, Gulf and Russian markets. Second, the share routed via Şırnak overland into Iraq shows the road corridor functioning as the second export channel that complements the maritime route — a flow that will accelerate once the Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi Highway is completed. Third, the Plant Prescription system builds the farm-to-fork quality infrastructure needed to meet EU and Gulf buyers' pesticide-residue limits and traceability requirements — a critical step that locks in Mersin's position on the world citrus export map for the long term.
Key Takeaways:
1. Mersin retained its lead with $325.6 million Q1 2026 citrus exports — 46.7% of Türkiye's total.
2. AKİB data show Q1 nationwide citrus exports of 638,442 tonnes worth $697.7 million; Şırnak ($109.1M), Hatay ($96.4M), Adana ($76.3M) and Gaziantep ($19.4M) rounded out the top five.
3. Mersin's Q1 figure rose roughly 62% from $201.3 million a year earlier.
4. Mersin International Port (MIP) is the principal gateway for Europe, Gulf and Russia routes via reefer containers; overland to Iraq via Şırnak is the second channel.
5. The Plant Prescription (B-Reçete) system builds the farm-to-fork quality layer needed for EU and Gulf pesticide-residue and traceability requirements.
