Chairman of the Eastern Black Sea Exporters’ Association (DKİB), Saffet Kalyoncu, told AA correspondent that 56% of Turkey’s 4-month tea exports were made from Rize.
Kalyoncu stated that 1,549 tons of tea were exported from the city in the January-April period, earning $5,894,237 from these exports.
He noted that last year during the same period, Rize’s tea exports amounted to $5,193,669, indicating a 13% increase in value for this period compared to last year.
Kalyoncu emphasized that tea was exported to 18 countries from Rize, continuing:
“Belgium, the USA, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were the top three countries for tea exports. During this period, $4,553,929 worth of tea was sold to Belgium, $484,179 to the USA, and $209,830 to TRNC. Unlike last year, tea was exported to the USA and TRNC this period. Additionally, tea was exported to France, the People’s Republic of China, Turkmenistan, Croatia, and Malta this period.”
Kalyoncu concluded by expressing confidence that tea exports had started well this year and that they believe it will continue to increase in the coming days.
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç