TÜRKŞEKER to Produce 910 Thousand Tons of Sugar in New Era

September 27, 2026 · Türkşeker

TÜRKŞEKER General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin announced that they will process 6.9 million tons of beets on 1.039 million decares of land in the 2026-2027 campaign period, producing 910 thousand tons of sugar.

TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin made comprehensive statements regarding the institution's ownership structure and its strategic position in the sugar sector. Addressing public perceptions, TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin stated:

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin reported that out of a total of 32 sugar factories operating across Turkey, 14 belong to the public sector, 6 to beet cooperatives, and 12 to the private sector. He added that 72% of the total production in the country is carried out by public or semi-public entities, with TÜRKŞEKER alone holding a 36% market share.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin shared the institution's targets for the 2026-2027 campaign period, announcing that cooperation will be carried out with approximately 30,000 farmer families in 1,151 villages under contract farming agreements. According to TÜRKŞEKER data, approximately 6.9 million tons of sugar beets will be harvested from 1.039 million decares of cultivated land and processed in public factories to produce 910 thousand tons of crystal sugar. Şahin noted that their facilities process a total of 63,000 tons of beets daily, yielding 10,000 tons of crystal sugar every day. He also stated that the aim is to bring 317 thousand tons of molasses and 2.08 million tons of wet beet pulp as by-products into the economy during the processing period.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin emphasized that all factories within TÜRKŞEKER hold a Zero Waste Certificate, indicating that all materials generated during the production phase are utilized. Describing the waste management approach in the production process, TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin stated:

Şahin recalled that molasses, one of the by-products, is the primary raw material for the yeast industry, which Turkey exports to 135 countries. He mentioned that ethyl alcohol is produced from molasses at the Eskişehir Sugar Factory. He highlighted that this substance, a key input for the production of cologne, disinfectants, and medical alcohol, provides strategic security. He also stated that a significant portion of the produced beet pulp is distributed free of charge to contract farmers as animal feed.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin stressed that the sugar industry is a fully integrated ecosystem comprising agriculture, finance, and heavy industry. He announced that the domestic seed varieties 'Türkşeker 2023' and 'Türkşeker 2053', registered by the institution's Seed R&D Center, have been introduced to the fields. Şahin stated that thanks to TÜRKŞEKER's three machinery factories and one electromechanical equipment factory, they have the capability to manufacture 70% of a sugar factory from scratch on a turnkey basis. He noted that 3,920 tons of machinery and equipment were manufactured in 2025. The institution can complete the entire chain, from contract cultivation in the field to processing and packaging, within a short timeframe of 36 hours using its own corporate infrastructure.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin pointed out that sugar beet is an indispensable crop for soil health within the crop rotation system. He explained that beets cannot be planted repeatedly on the same plot, and following beets, grains and other field crops are planted as part of the rotation. Highlighting the role of the crop rotation chain in agricultural production, TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin said:

Şahin stated that beet cultivation is carried out in 60 provinces across Turkey, with 100,000 farmers directly producing beets. Including the crop rotation system, this process involves 350,000 producers, and Pankobirlik's total membership reaches 900,000.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin touched upon the direct link between the sugar production chain and the livestock sector, emphasizing the critical role of by-products like pulp and molasses in balancing animal feed costs. Evaluating the relationship between the geographical distribution of factories and livestock activities, TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin made the following assessment:

Şahin reported that molasses is a nutritious and low-cost feed component, and demand significantly increases, especially during periods of foot-and-mouth disease, to meet animals' mineral needs. He also said that TÜRKŞEKER's extension and training activities in rural areas have played a decisive role in establishing a culture of mechanized agriculture in Turkey.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin highlighted the scale of logistics operations during the harvest and processing periods, noting that transporting harvested beets from fields to factories creates a massive volume in domestic road transportation. According to operational data shared by Şahin, a total of 33.5 million tons of raw materials and products are transported during one campaign period, equivalent to approximately 1.5 million heavy vehicle transportations. Since harvested products must be processed within a maximum of 36 hours to prevent sugar loss, all transportation logistics are synchronized with the factories' daily processing capacity of 63,000 tons.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin stated that the total monetary scale of the economic ecosystem stimulated by the sugar industry has reached 1 trillion Turkish Lira, and with the contributions of sector components, an annual final product export of $4.5 billion is realized. According to TÜRKŞEKER's calculations, in 2025 prices, 275 billion Turkish Lira in direct value added and 750 billion Turkish Lira in indirect value added through multiplier effects were provided to the national economy. Şahin reported that the beet payment to producers was 66 billion Turkish Lira, the market value of the produced crystal sugar was 105 billion Turkish Lira, and the value of by-products was 15 billion Turkish Lira. He also noted that the production value generated by the food manufacturing industry, which uses sugar as a primary input, exceeded 575 billion Turkish Lira.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin explained that sugar factories produce their own electricity through cogeneration units. He recounted events during the February 6 Malatya earthquake, emphasizing the critical function of the facility in the region. TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin stated:

Şahin announced that through their renewable energy investments, including a 4 MW rooftop solar power plant (SPP) at the Ankara campus and a 20 MW ground-mounted SPP project in Erciş, they will reach a total clean installed capacity of 24 MW. He noted that these investments will prevent 23,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Şahin also disclosed that tomato production is being carried out using soilless agriculture methods in a modern 20,000 square meter greenhouse heated by industrial waste heat from the Ankara Sugar Factory.

Dr. Muhiddin Şahin discussed the mechanism for determining beet purchase prices, explaining the financial predictability it provides for farmer incomes. Regarding agricultural sustainability and farmer earnings, TÜRKŞEKER Chairman of the Board and General Manager Dr. Muhiddin Şahin said:

Şahin reported that the direct beet purchase price constitutes 50% to 60% of the final sugar production cost in the factories. He stated that input costs in all production basins, from Kars to Konya, are calculated individually, and pricing policy is formed by considering alternative grain prices and general inflation rates. Şahin added that the current wholesale sugar sales prices being below production costs financially strains both public and private manufacturing factories.

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