Turkey is one of the few countries in the world which is self-sufficient in food. At present Turkey is the largest producer and exporter of agricultural products in the Near East and North Africa. Exports of agricultural commodities and food products were valued at US$ 3.6 billion in 2002 and accounted for 10 % of Turkey’s total export earnings.

Bread being the staple food of Turkey, cereals are of great importance in Turkish agriculture. In addition, Turkey has an important place among the major pulse producing countries and has the means of dominating the world trade. Except for a few varieties of exotic products, Turkey produces 80 types of fresh fruit and vegetables out of which 50 kinds are exported. Turkish edible nuts and dried fruit production is quite high and dominates the world markets. Turkey’s vast agricultural potential offers an extensive range of fruits and vegetables which are preserved in a variety of ways. One of the rapidly growing sectors of Turkey’s agro industry is the frozen fruit and vegetable industry. Utilising the same advantages of its agricultural potential, Turkey has an important place among other countries regarding the quantity and quality of its vegetable oil industry production. Especially with the technological advances and increased investments realised in the last years, the sugar confectionary, chocolate  and cocoa products, pasta and biscuits sectors are regarded as promising sectors for Turkish agro industry.

The aforementioned strong agricultural potential and Turkey’s food industry, changing lifestyles and tastes due to increased industrialisation and urbanisation, the increase in family income, and the decrease in available time for preparing meals, have resulted in a strong food processing sector. Accordingly, a large food processing sector has accelerated the development of the food processing machinery and equipment industry in Turkey. At present, the Turkish food processing machinery and equipment industry is the most modern in the Middle East, North Africa, Balkans, Baltic and Central Asia.

The food processing machinery and equipment industry has particular importance for Turkey due to its promising export potential. In this field, manufacturing firms were producing mainly for the domestic market until 1990. After 1990, the sector has directed its attention to foreign markets also.

The Turkish machinery industry has recorded a substantial increase in exports compared to Turkey’s overall exports. In 2002, the export value of the machinery industry was 2.1 billion Dollars, indicating a 23.5 % increase compared with 2001 figures. Its share in total exports was 6%. One of the most promising subsectors of the Turkish machinery industry in exports is food processing machinery and equipment. The export value of food processing machinery and equipment reached 62.2 million dollars in 2002. Turkish exports of food processing machinery and equipment consists mainly of: flour and grain mill machinery, bakery and pasta making machinery, bakery ovens, industrial machinery for food and drink preparation, machinery for extraction/preparation of fats and oils, machinery for cleaning/sorting/grading seeds and grains, cacao and confectionery machinery, presses and crushers for wine, fruit juice and beverages, pasteurisers and sterilizators.

In the food processing machinery and equipment industry, exports are directed to about 100 countries. Major markets in 2002 in order of rank are Algeria, Egypt, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Romania, Iran, and Ukraine which have similar agricultural structure and consumption habits. High engineering skills, product flexibility, continuous product development and adaptation, and efficient after-sales-services enable Turkey to export Turkish made food processing machinery and equipment all over the world at an ever increasing rate.

The Turkish food processing machinery manufacturers/exporters follow European and international standards and norms. Companies exporting to the European Union affix the “CE Mark” under the “New Approach” Directives. The obligation to affix the “CE Mark” also started in the Turkish domestic market in 2002.

The products of the Turkish food machinery industry are exhibited in international and national fairs organized in Turkey.