Turkey allows duty-free wheat imports for flour millers

On March 19, 2025, Turkey officially opened duty-free wheat imports under the Domestic Processing Regime (DIR). This decision will allow Turkish flour millers to import wheat without paying duties, provided they export an equivalent amount of flour. Reuters reports with reference to the Turkish Millers Federation and the Turkish Grain Council (TMO).

Until now, flour millers were obliged to purchase 75% of their wheat needs from the state-owned TMO, and could import only 25% within the framework of the domestic processing regime.

The change in the import regime restores the standard scheme for Turkey, which was in place before the introduction of severe restrictions in June 2024. Then the government banned wheat imports from June 21 to October 15 to protect local farmers. In October, the restrictions were partially lifted, allowing flour mills to import only 15% of the required raw materials and purchase the remaining 85% from TMOs.

Experts note that although the decision to import wheat duty-free facilitates access to raw materials, a significant increase in supplies will be difficult due to existing quotas and stocks in customs warehouses. At the same time, the news of a possible increase in imports affected stock prices: the price of wheat on the French Euronext exchange increased by 2.3% to €227.3 per ton for May delivery.