Private vegetable producers in Turkmenistan exported over 51.3 thousand tons of greenhouse tomatoes worth more than $56 million in the first 11 months of 2021.
The main importing countries of Turkmen tomatoes are Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the UAE, the official media of Turkmenistan reported on Monday with reference to the statistical data provided by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIET).
Turkmenistan is the fourth largest supplier of tomatoes to Russia. During the 11 months of last year, over 32 thousand tons of the Turkmen crops were shipped to Moscow, Moscow Oblast, St. Petersburg and Ural region.
Year by year, the country increases its vegetable exports. In 2019, the Turkmen businesses shipped 36.4 thousand tons of vegetables to foreign markets. In 2020, the exports increased to 44.6 thousand tons. Tomatoes comprise the bulk of the Turkmen supplies to foreign markets.
The member-businesses of UIET operate greenhouses with a total area of 530.54 hectares. Their 500 hectares will grow tomatoes for the 2021-2022 harvest season with the expectation of collecting 85 thousand tons of the crop. Most of the tomatoes are expected to be exported.
