Miller Magazine Issue: 152 August 2022

72 INTERVIEW MILLER / AUGUST 2022 to postpone constantly and to review our future plans. We also made sales to many new regions. Our flour factory project, which we commissioned in Russia, is a good example of this. In the Covid-19 process, which affected our entire lives, we remembered how vital nutrition is. In particular, we have re-understood the place and importance of cereals in human nutrition. Consumption of pulses, pasta, wheat flour, semolina, etc. has reached its peak. Because these products are easy to store, have a long shelf life, have a high nutritional value and have many uses. We foresee that the consumption of grain, particularly wheat, will increase in the future. Since the new generation likes to live more practical and fast, noodle-style pastas will further dominate the market. We anticipate that the consumption of such products will increase day by day. Commodity prices hit an all-time high due to the Ukraine-Russia war. The war magnified the risks that start- ed before the pandemic and evolved into greater uncertain- ties with the pandemic. Russia and Ukraine are also among the prominent suppliers of qualified steel needed by the milling machinery industry. How do the geopolitical risks that increased due to the war affect you and the industry? The price increases in raw materials and the difficulties ex- perienced in supply are reflected in the prices we offer to our customers although unwillingly. As you know, Russia is the world wheat export leader. The war and price increases not only affect the trade of our current customers, but also the decisions of our customers who make investment plans. What are the other challenges the Turkish milling ma- chinery industry is facing today? All the adverse events ongoing around the world are di- rectly or indirectly reflected in the milling machinery industry. Because our company is export-intensive, the increase in shipping prices affects our trade due to the global container and vessel supply problem. In addition, increases in iron and steel prices, uncertainties in rawmaterial supply, and suppliers who stockpile make life difficult for us. We have to reflect the price increases to our customers. Can you tell us about your recent successful projects that make you proud? From the moment we decided to open up our long-stand- ing trade to the Asian and African markets to every part of the world and saw the deep interest to us, we keep asking our- selves the question, 'Why haven't we made this breakthrough before?' We have seen that our valued customers working with the Aybakar brand share their satisfaction with other investors in the industry and this made our job easier. This enabled us to achieve the same success we attained in Asia and Africa in South America, Europe and the Far East, too, in a short time.