Turkey and Russia Resolve Agricultural Trade Hiccups
· TarımTR
Following Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı's meetings in Moscow, the passage of Turkish tomatoes waiting at the border has resumed, and it has been confirmed that there will be no restrictions on fertilizer supply.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı emphasized that food supply security has directly become a national security issue for all countries on a global scale. Making important assessments following his visit to Russia, Yumaklı stated that conflict environments and geopolitical fractures exert significant pressure on agricultural supply chains. He noted that Turkey is pursuing agricultural diplomacy much more actively to both procure essential agricultural inputs needed in the domestic market and meet the food demands of friendly nations.
Minister Yumaklı met with his Russian counterpart Oksana Lut and her delegation within the scope of the 2nd International Veterinary Security Forum held in Moscow, discussing agricultural and food trade between the two countries. The fundamental issues hindering commercial flow between the two nations were comprehensively addressed during the talks. According to information provided by the Ministry, the parties reached a full consensus on a large portion of the existing agricultural trade problems, successfully establishing bilateral relations on a more solid foundation.
One of the most concrete gains from the meetings was regarding Turkish tomatoes waiting at Russian customs and border crossings. Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced that the delays and bureaucratic obstacles at the border have been completely overcome as a result of the bilateral negotiations. Yumaklı stated that, in line with the joint decision, the entry of exported tomatoes into the Russian market has resumed, specifically highlighting that this development preserves commercial continuity for exporters and producers and prevents market loss.
A decision for close coordination in plant health and quarantine processes was made to ensure the uninterrupted flow of agricultural products between the two countries. Minister Yumaklı stated that the technical teams of both countries will manage the inspection mechanisms through continuous communication. This way, technical and quarantine-related disruptions that may arise in mutual export and import operations will be resolved directly on the ground through swift and rational diplomatic channels without halting trade.
The supply of chemical fertilizers, one of the most critical cost and yield factors in plant production, was also at the center of the negotiations between the two countries. Minister Yumaklı reminded that there will be no restrictions on fertilizer shipments from Russia to Turkey throughout 2026. It was announced that the relevant public institutions and sector representatives of both countries will meet in Turkey on October 25, 2026, to detail the process, aiming to secure fertilizer supply.
It was pointed out that regional conflicts and geopolitical fluctuations have severely shaken global logistics routes and input markets. Minister Yumaklı noted that tensions in the Gulf and Middle East regions have drastically increased freight costs through energy, oil, and natural gas markets. To minimize the impact of these global pressures on Turkish farmers, it was reported that various foreign trade measures, such as making products in warehouses available to the domestic market in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade, have been taken.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry conducts continuous monitoring efforts to identify strategic areas in agricultural production that could face bottlenecks months in advance. Yumaklı emphasized that supply security is protected through multifaceted agreements against potential global food crises. He stated that product supply support will continue for needy countries that have difficulty accessing basic food items and have weak capacity to take precautions, adding that Turkey is a reliable regional actor in food security.