Turkiye’s salmon exports increased by 9% in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching $396 million 315 thousand 453.
According to information compiled from Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association (DKIB) data, In Turkish salmon, which is grown by transferring it to sea cages in the Black Sea after reaching a certain weight in established farms in inland waters, exports, which were $363 million 102 thousand 216 in 2022, increased to $396 million 315 thousand 453 in 2023.
Exports in terms of quantity increased from 49 thousand 196 tons to 63 thousand 161 tons.
Thus, last year’s Turkish salmon exports increased by 28% in quantity and 9% in value compared to the previous year.
Last year, Turkish salmon was exported to 45 countries, especially the Russian Federation.
In 2023, 41 thousand 461 tons of salmon worth $231 million 958 thousand 984 were exported from Turkiye to the Russian Federation. In the previous year, 28 thousand 527 tons of exports worth $210 million 940 thousand 589 were made to Russia. Thus, salmon exports to the Russian Federation increased by 45% in quantity and 10% in value compared to the previous year.
The Russian Federation was followed by Germany with $49 million 478 thousand 165 and Vietnam with $39 million 416 thousand 716.
Exports from the Eastern Black Sea Region increased by 38%
The Eastern Black Sea Region also increased its share in Turkish salmon exports.
Last year, 26 thousand 702 tons of salmon worth $157 million 898 thousand 12 were sold from the region to 21 countries, especially the Russian Federation.
The previous year, 15 thousand 853 tons of salmon worth $114 million 191 thousand 747 were exported from the region. In this context, last year’s salmon exports increased by 68% in quantity and 38% in value compared to the previous year.
“We aim to reach large figures in Turkish salmon exports”
DKIB Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Ahmet Hamdi Gurdogan said that Turkish salmon closed last year with an increase in exports.
Stating that he has high expectations from Turkish salmon exports, Gurdogan said, “Our primary goal in Turkish salmon exports is to ensure market diversity. Within the scope of our studies and projects as DKIB, we will focus on these activities in the markets of Japan and the People’s Republic of China in 2024.”
Gurdogan emphasized that they want to increase Turkish salmon exports and made the following evaluation:
“In order to increase our Turkish salmon exports and market share, it is very important to provide cold storage facilities, packaging facilities and final products. Because we sell Turkish salmon as a semi-finished product, we cannot send it as a fully finished product. That’s why we aim to reach large figures in Turkish salmon exports with new cold storages, processing facilities and new areas.”
That’s why we aim to reach large figures in Turkish salmon exports with new cold storages, processing facilities and new areas.”
Gurdogan pointed out that the Eastern Black Sea region also has a significant potential in Turkish salmon exports and said:
“The point we have reached today as a region is that we have exceeded Turkiye’s average in Turkish salmon exports. We believe that this figure will grow much more in the coming days. Our goals this year are to increase the average figure in Turkiye as a region and to reduce the increase in the Turkish average from 9% to 30%. Considering that we have started exporting salmon to American countries as well as the Far East, we foresee that these figures can be reached.”
Stating that, as DKIB, they are constantly working to increase exports, Gurdogan said, “We are especially working on our UR-GE and R&D projects. As DKIB, we will be looking for new markets, fair programs and related technology transfer within the scope of our UR-GE project. We want to reach much higher figures by deepening our search for new markets with our companies in the aquaculture sector.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz