According to information compiled from the Turkish Statistical Institute data by an AA correspondent, exports of seafood in categories such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic invertebrates continue to increase.
In this field, exports amounted to approximately $962,233,000 in 2019, $1,008,993,000 in 2020, $1,294,359,000 in 2021, and $1,540,027,000 in 2022. Seafood exports increased by 67.6% last year compared to 2019, reaching $1,612,724,000.
Thus, while export growth in these products continues, total sales abroad amounted to $6,418,335,000 over the five-year period.
Most exports to Russia Last year, the highest export, amounting to $323,287,000, was made to Russia. This was followed by Italy with $172,355,000, the United Kingdom with $154,813,000, and the Netherlands with $149,004,000.
Despite the increase in seafood exports, imports fluctuated. While imports amounted to $182,114,000 in 2019, the figure decreased to $143,104,000 in 2020, increased to $201,786,000 in 2021, and rose further to $294,480,000 in 2022. Last year, imports were recorded at $263,167,000.
During this period, total imports amounted to approximately $1,084,651,000.
Norway ranked first in imports with $72,273,000. It was followed by Malaysia and Morocco.
“The development of aquaculture has a significant contribution to the increase in exports” Ramazan Özkaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Union of Fisheries Cooperatives, made an assessment regarding the increase in seafood exports to an AA correspondent.
Özkaya stated that Turkey is the country that exports the most trout to Europe and is also at the forefront in the export of sea bass and sea bream.
Özkaya emphasized that the production of Black Sea salmon has also started to increase in recent times, stating that this product will also contribute to the increase in exports.
Highlighting that they continuously work to increase exports, Özkaya stated:
“The fish farming industry in our country is growing every year. A lot of support is given to this sector, and investments are made. The development of aquaculture has a significant contribution to the continuous increase in seafood exports. Our target in seafood exports is to exceed $2 billion in a short time.”
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç