Carob Production in Turkey
Turkey is a country located within the natural distribution area of carob and is home to both wild and grafted carob trees on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. According to sources based on TurkStat data, Turkey's carob production increased from 16,256 tons in 2019 to 24,561 tons in 2023, and the production area expanded significantly in the same period.
Production is mainly concentrated in Antalya, Mersin and Adana. In this article, we discuss where carob grows in Turkey, production figures, distribution by provinces and trends in recent years with their sources.
Turkey is in the Natural Home of Carob
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a tree native to the Mediterranean basin, resistant to drought and liking coastal areas with mild winters. In Turkey, it is naturally distributed in the coastal areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. In a recent study on wild genotypes in Antalya, it is stated that carob can be seen up to approximately 600 meters above sea level, and the belt where it is most concentrated is 20–100 meters above the coast (Balkıç et al., 2024).
On an international scale, Turkey is among the carob producing countries. In the FAO-supported Feedipedia database, based on FAO's 2011 data, it is stated that Spain and Italy provide half of the world production, followed by Morocco, Portugal, Turkey and Greece. In a more recent review, it is stated that world production is approximately 400 thousand tons of pods per year, with more than 70 percent of this coming from EU countries (Correia and Pestana, 2024). Since different sources are based on different years and methods, it is necessary to be careful in comparing world figures.
A distinctive feature of carob cultivation in Turkey is that a significant portion of production has been provided not from regular gardens for many years, but from trees that grow spontaneously in natural or semi-natural environments. In the same study, it is emphasized that wild types are most common in natural environments, while grafted or succulent culture types are less common (Balkıç et al., 2024). In the news regarding the investor guide published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2020, it was stated that the product was mostly collected from wild trees and that the expansion of indoor garden cultivation would increase production (Habertürk/AA, 2020).
Carob Production in Turkey: Figures by Years
Sources based on crop production statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) show a significant increase in carob production and production area in recent years. The values given in the 2024 feasibility report of the Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA) based on TURKSTAT and the information of Balkıç et al. (2024) based on TURKSTAT 2023 data are brought together below:
| Year | Production (tons) | Area (decare) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15.506 | 6.821 | BAKA, 2024 (TURKSTAT) |
| 2019 | 16.256 | 7.652 | BAKA, 2024 (TURKSTAT) |
| 2020 | 18.806 | 9.299 | BAKA, 2024 (TURKSTAT) |
| 2021 | 20.633 | 10.776 | BAKA, 2024 (TURKSTAT) |
| 2022 | 25.106 | 16.980 | BAKA, 2024 (TURKSTAT) |
| 2023 | 24.561 | 19.358 | Balkıç et al., 2024 (TurkStat) |
The "area" values in the table refer to the surface area recorded by TURKSTAT as a closed area (garden); therefore, it may not reflect all of the trees scattered in nature. In addition, in the introduction section of the BAKA report, the 2022 area is mentioned as 16,890 decares, while 16,980 decares are written in the table; this article is based on the table value.
The figures point to two important trends. First, the amount of production increased by approximately 60 percent in the 2018–2022 period. Second, the registered production area increased two and a half times in the same period. The fact that the area grows faster than the production can be explained by the fact that the newly established orchards have not yet reached the age of full yield; the carob tree needs years to bear fruit and reach full yield.
Distribution by Provinces
Carob production in Turkey is concentrated in several provinces. The provincial data for 2022 given in the BAKA report based on TURKSTAT are as follows:
| Province | Production (tons) | Area (decare) | Yield per tree (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya | 13.095 | 5.535 | 89 |
| Mersin | 8.776 | 4.563 | 61 |
| Adana | 2.108 | 5.637 | 28 |
| Mugla | 734 | 543 | 35 |
| Osmaniye | 331 | 695 | 50 |
| Burdur | 62 | 7 | 48 |
According to these data, Antalya alone accounted for more than half of Turkey's production in 2022 and was the province with the highest yield per tree. The report states that Adana, Antalya, and Mersin accounted for approximately 93 percent of the total area, while the Turkish average was 51.8 kg per tree in 2022 (BAKA, 2024). In 2023 data, Antalya ranks first with an area of 6,648 decares and a production of 12,581 tons (Balkıç et al., 2024).
Adana's situation is also remarkable: Although it is the province with the largest registered area in 2022, its yield per tree is low. This picture may be related to the fact that a significant part of the area consists of newly established gardens that have not yet yielded; however, there is no detailed explanation on this subject in the source report.
Regions with Dense Natural Populations
In addition to province-based statistics, it is also important in which regions carob forms dense populations. Referring to a comprehensive selection project conducted in the Mediterranean Region (Pekmezci et al., 2004), Balkıç et al. (2024) list the regions with dense carob populations as follows:
| Antalya | Alanya, Gazipaşa, Serik, Manavgat, Kumluca, Demre, Kaş |
| Mersin | Silifke, Erdemli, Anamur, Bozyazı |
| Adana | Kozan |
| Mugla | Bodrum, Datça, Marmaris, Fethiye |
In Turkey, carob types are generally grouped as "meaty", "samos" and "wild". In a study based on Seçmen (1973), it is stated that the meaty and wild types are dominant in the Mediterranean Region, while the samos type is dominant in the Aegean (Çetinay et al., 2014). For region-specific details, you can review our articles devoted to Alanya, Mersin-Anamur and the Aegean coast.
How is production done?
Carob production in Turkey is largely labor-based. The BAKA report states that harvesting is usually done in late summer or early autumn, shaking off branches with long poles and collecting fruits in nets laid under trees; it states that hand harvesting accounts for approximately 30–35 percent of the total production cost. Harvesting is recommended when carob reaches 12–18 percent water content (BAKA, 2024).
A significant part of the wild trees are grafted and cultivated by local producers. In the study conducted in Köprülü Canyon National Park in Antalya, it was emphasized that the village people grafted wild trees and cultured them and that the product obtained was an important source of income for the local people (Çetinay et al., 2014).
Trends in Recent Years
In recent years, interest in carob has been increasing in Turkey. Several factors stand out behind this trend:
| Public incentive | The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry prepared a feasibility report and investor guide for those who want to establish a carob orchard in 2020; in the guide, it is stated that there are large areas suitable for cultivation in the Mediterranean Region (Habertürk/AA, 2020). |
| Industry demand | In the same news, it was stated that the demand for the product increased by carob processing factories in Turkey. |
| Drought resistance | In a workshop held in Antalya, producers were advised to grow drought-resistant carob on dry and barren lands; in the workshop news, it was stated that Turkey's production is approximately 25 thousand tons per year and Antalya is the largest producer province with approximately 13 thousand tons (Politika Newspaper, 2023). |
| Local supports | It has been reported that Antalya Metropolitan Municipality distributed 5,000 grafted carob saplings to 62 producers in Alanya in 2026, and approximately 200 acres of land was brought into agriculture with this support (Gazete Vatan, 2026). |
Main Issues in Front of the Industry
In the sources, the strengths of Turkish carob production and the areas that need to be improved are discussed together. In the BAKA report, carob's low fertilizer requirement, suitability for marginal lands and drought resistance stand out as strengths; late yield, frosts below −4 °C can damage adult trees, rainfall and high humidity during flowering, pests and labor-intensive harvest are among the risks (BAKA, 2024).
Among the final recommendations of the workshop in Antalya were increasing indoor garden facilities, increasing nurseries, rehabilitating unproductive trees, establishing gene pools in the Eastern Mediterranean, Western Mediterranean, and Aegean, registering more varieties, and supporting industrialists producing value-added products (Politika Gazetesi, 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much carob is produced annually in Turkey?
According to sources based on TURKSTAT data, production was 25,106 tons in 2022 and 24,561 tons in 2023.
In which province is carob produced the most in Turkey?
Antalya ranks first in 2022 and 2023 data. It is followed by Mersin and Adana.
In which regions does carob grow in Turkey?
It grows mainly in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and Aegean regions.
Is carob production increasing in Turkey?
Yes. According to TurkStat data, both the production amount and the registered production area have increased significantly since 2018.
Turkish Carob with Carob Türkiye
Carob, grown on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, is a valuable raw material for both the domestic market and export. As Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds and extracts. We offer all of our products Our Products page, for the general properties of carob What is Carob? You can read our article. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
Erbaş, S., "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), Publication No: 153, 2024 (Tables based on TURKSTAT 2023 data). DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
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