While Turkey has decided to import sugar for the first time in 24 years, the uncertainties regarding the import of 400,000 tons of sugar are confusing.
Although the import decision was taken to prevent the so-called increased sugar prices, the fact that sugar prices, let alone falling, increased, caused the imports to be questioned.
Turkey, the country of beet, started to import sugar within the scope of A after 24 years.
While the import decision revealed the distortion in the agricultural policy, the mystery regarding the import of 400 thousand tons of sugar caused question marks.
The increase in sugar prices from 4 to 5 liras to 20 liras in a short period of 6-8 months left Turkey facing a sugar crisis, and it was noteworthy that the government immediately embraced the import decision as a solution.
With the Presidential Decree, 400,000 tons of duty-free sugar import was allowed.
The decision to import sugar had revealed that even in beet production, where Turkey's hand in agricultural production is the strongest, there is now a problem.
WHO WAS AUTHORIZED TO IMPORT 400 THOUSAND TONS OF SUGAR?
While the process for sugar imports is carried out by the Ministry of Commerce, it is not disclosed to the public which companies are authorized to import 400,000 tons of sugar.
Only the confectionery industrialists will be able to use the imported sugar according to their production capacity.
However, while it does not seem possible for each confectionery industrialist to import separately, it is noted that the import authorization is given to certain companies collectively on behalf of the confectionery industrialists.
It is noteworthy that the companies that are granted collective authorization for sugar imports are not fully known in the sector.
SUGAR PRICES WOULD DROP FROM 20 LIRA TO 15 LIRA!
While the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry showed stockpiling and excessive price increases as the main reason for 400,000 tons of sugar imports, it was promised that sugar prices would fall from 20 liras to 15-17 liras with the import to be made.
However, at this point, while it is not known how much sugar Turkey imports, sugar prices have not only decreased but increased even more.
Even in Turkey's leading chain markets, 1 kg of granulated sugar is sold in the price range of 25 to 30 liras, while this price goes up to 35 liras in neighborhood grocery stores.
IT IS NOT KNOWN WHO HAS BENEFIT FROM IMPORTS
While it reveals that the decision to import 400 tons of sugar is not a solution to sugar prices, it is not known who benefits from the import. While sugar prices were constantly on the agenda before the import decision, it is meaningful that sugar prices suddenly dropped from the agenda, although sugar prices continued to increase after the import decision.
TURKEY HAS BEEN DROPPED INTO THE SUGAR CRISIS BY EYES!
Consciously keeping sugar prices low during the previous general manager of Turkey Sugar Factories (TÜRKŞEKER), who was dismissed despite the fact that Turkey has enough sugar
and uncontrolled wholesale sugar sales in the period when sugar prices were kept low, provided a large rent to certain capital groups. However, it also dragged Turkey into a big sugar crisis.
WHOLESALE SUGAR SALES ARE HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC!
In the period when TÜRKŞEKER kept sugar prices low despite rising costs, the concealment of wholesale sugar sales made through TÜRKŞEKER and TÜRKŞEKER TARIM from the public causes wholesale sugar sales to be questioned.
THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE DID NOT EVEN GIVE ANSWER ABOUT WHOLESALE SUGAR SALES!
While sugar prices were low, the mystery in wholesale sugar sales through TÜRKŞEKER and TÜRKŞEKER TARIM became such that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry did not even respond to the information request made to the Presidential Communication Center (CIMER) on the subject.
In the application we made to CIMER on June 26, we asked, “Was there any wholesale sugar sales from TÜRKŞEKER and its subsidiary TÜRKŞEKER TARIM AŞ to any group, company or person between 01.01.2022 and 31.05.2022? If it was done, how much was it given?" It is meaningful that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry did not respond in any way to this information request, even though 36 days have passed.