Applied Fruit Science, 2024 (Scopus)
Turkiye ranks first globally in quince production and holds the leading position in quince exports. As of 2022, Turkiye accounted for 42% of the world’s total quince exports, securing the top position in this market. The primary objective of this study is to assess the competitiveness of Turkish quince in international trade, highlighting its significance as a key export commodity in agricultural production while emphasizing the strategic importance of enhancing this potential. The study employs the Balassa Index, a widely recognized tool for measuring competitiveness, to analyze Turkiye’s position. The results indicate that Turkiye holds the highest share of quince export value at 40%. A detailed analysis of Turkiye’s revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index values from 2012 to 2022 reveals that Turkish quince consistently maintains a strong competitive advantage, although a slight dip in 2015 is observed. Despite being the world leader in quince exports, Turkiye faces competition from re-exporting countries like the Netherlands and Austria, as well as from Greece and Spain, which have similar climates, and Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, which are expanding their quince cultivation areas. While China and Argentina exhibit considerable potential in quince production, they do not have the same potential in the export market. A key finding is that although Turkiye leads in global quince exports, the unit price remains below the global average. Based on these findings, the study provides recommendations for enhancing Turkiye’s quince production and trade policies.