Marmarabirlik/Asa: Our Mission is to Safeguard Both Marmarabirlik and Producers
Foreks - In a recent statement regarding the product purchase prices for the 2024/2025 business year, Marmarabirlik's Board Chairman Hidamet Asa said, “Our duty is to protect both Marmarabirlik and the producers. This is the reason for the advance price application.”
Marmara Olive Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Union (Marmarabirlik) announced the product purchase prices for the 2024-2025 business year last week. During the cooperative coordination meeting, a joint decision was made to purchase products at an advance price, which was communicated to the public. Accordingly, the advance ceiling prices were set at 125 TL for 180 olives, 105 TL for 200 olives, 47 TL for 380 olives, and 45 TL for table olives.
Why advance price? Despite various entities announcing the advance price, Hidamet Asa pointed out that there have been statements claiming the prices are low. He stated, “Everyone is well aware of the buying and selling prices of products under market conditions. We have given an advance price to protect our producers as well as Marmarabirlik. An advance price means a pre-purchase price. During the purchasing period, market conditions will be monitored, and if there is a price difference under market conditions, Marmarabirlik will not let anyone suffer.”
Chairman Asa continued his statements: "During our tenure, we have never left our producers in the lurch; we have always supported them. Our olive producer partners should trust us. Some groups that have no responsibilities and do not carry any burdens are making comments about advance prices and trying to give instructions. I call out to those trying to create a negative perception through the producer; our producer may express dissatisfaction to the board, but they will never hold a grudge against their institution, Marmarabirlik."
Emphasizing that what they mean will be understood much better in the coming days, Asa said, “Marmarabirlik and its partners are like meat and bone. Last year, we provided great support to our producers. This year is the time to stand by the institution. The balance of supply and demand is related to whether it is a year of abundance or scarcity for the product. Last year, there was a crop of 350,000 tons of table olives, while this year this figure has reached 800,000 tons. In areas outside the operating field of Marmarabirlik, olive prices are at 80-85 TL. This year, the highest crop in the history of the Republic will occur. In such a period, we are purchasing products with an advance price of 125 TL, meaning we are making a prepayment.”
Producers' expectation: "Keep the prices stable, just lift the product" With almost 100,000 tons of crop declarations marking a historic increase this year, Hidamet Asa stated that they followed a purchasing strategy that would benefit producer partners the most. He said, “During the period of crop declaration purchases, all of our partners who declared a crop suggested, ‘Keep the prices from last year, but buy more products from us.’ This was the expectation. A purchase plan of 60,000 tons was made in order to buy more products from our producers.”
"We took risks, our goal is to support the producer." Asa noted that they evaluated all risks to support producer partners, saying, “As Marmarabirlik, we could have said, ‘We are purchasing 30,000 tons of products’ and withdrawn. But we didn’t do that. The only reason for planning a purchase of 60,000 tons, which is 1.5 times our production capacity, is that we foresaw the difficulties our partners would face. In the coming days, no one will talk about prices; they will strive to deliver the products. Our sensible producer partners are understanding this challenging year with patience.”