Export Competitiveness of Turkish Agri-Food Products in the European Union and The Shanghai Cooperation Markets

Abstract

This study assesses Turkey's competitiveness in the international commerce of agri-food items using harmonized product groups. The paper also looks at the future of agri-food markets in the EU and SCO. The study's primary goals were two-fold. The primary purpose was to examine if the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could be a viable option for Turkey's agri-food exports to the European Union (EU). The second goal was to figure out whether Turkish agricultural products have a competitive edge in the SCO and EU markets. The study also looked at the competitiveness and long-term viability of Turkish agri-food exports to the EU and SCO markets. Exports, imports, foreign trade volume, foreign trade balance, exports to imports ratio, and the Lafay index (LFI) were used in the study as comparative advantage indicators. The survival function, based on the Lafay index, was also used to anticipate the export competition time for the EU and SCO markets. While the export-import ratio for fruits and vegetables was high, the ratio for live animals and animal feeds trade between Turkey and EU and SCO states was low, according to the research.
 According to the data, Turkey had a competitive advantage in the export of fruits and vegetables, as well as in trade with the EU and SCO states. The study also discovered that the period of comparative advantage enjoyed by EU and SCO countries was not similar, and that the benefit was not consistent. Despite the fact that Turkey's international trade balance with the SCO nations has been fluctuating, its foreign trade with EU members has increased. As a result, Turkey should continue to trade in agri-food in the EU market while also increasing commercial connections with SCO countries.