Turkish Sugar Industry Sour On Production "As

After production quotas on sugar are removed in the European Union in 2017, firms in Turkey -- where quotas remain -- will lose competitive strength in both domestic and international markets, according to Starch and Glucose Producers Association (NÜD) President Rint Akyüz, speaking at a press conference in London on Tuesday.

Akyüz was part of a delegation of industry representatives and journalists who traveled from Turkey to attend the 23rd International Seminar of the International Sugar Organization (ISO). The conference was attended by over 400 people from 84 countries.

“In 2017, the European Union quota system will come to an end, but such a system will remain in place in Turkey. After the quotas are removed, prices within the EU market will enjoy free market conditions and fall closer to global price levels. However, while EU food industries benefit from competitive prices of sugar -- which is among the most important raw materials -- the Turkish food industry, bound by higher sugar prices, will lose competitive strength,” Akyüz said.

Although the food industry is expected to become the country's largest sector within the next few years, the continuation of production quotas will affect growth significantly, Akyüz noted. Quotas in Turkey specify the amount of sugar beets to be produced and the price at which they are to be sold.

Paul Benjamin Osterlund (Cihan/Today's Zaman)