Turkey Strengthens Its Position in the Global Fish Feed Export Market

Turkey's fish feed exports posted significant growth in the first half of 2026. Sector exports rose 31% year-on-year, climbing from USD 27 million to USD 35.4 million.

The Aegean region played a significant role in Turkey's fish feed exports, with the Aegean Cereals Legumes Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association realizing USD 30.5 million in exports, accounting for 86% of Turkey's total exports.

Global demand for Turkish fish feed rising
Muhammet Öztürk, Coordinator President of Aegean Exporters Associations and President of the Aegean Cereals Legumes Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, noted that Turkish fish feeds are increasingly preferred in global markets owing to high production capacity, quality raw materials and adherence to international production standards. He stated that fish feed production and exports have grown steadily in line with Turkey's development in aquaculture.

Öztürk emphasized that sustainable production practices and technological investment have enhanced the sector's competitiveness, noting that Turkish feed manufacturers both support domestic aquaculture operations and have achieved strong positioning in international markets.

Target: USD 100 million in exports by 2027
Öztürk noted that the fish feed sector provides strategic support to Turkey's aquaculture sector, which has achieved annual production capacity of 626,500 tonnes and export volume of USD 2.4 billion, and he offered assessments on the sector's future targets.

Öztürk said: "Growth in the aquaculture sector directly supports the fish feed industry. Sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices receive positive response from international buyers. The products manufactured by our feed manufacturers to high quality standards support aquaculture activities in our country and command strong global market demand. The increase in exports is a concrete result of our sector's investments in technology, R&D and sustainable production."

Öztürk noted that if Turkey maintains its current production and export performance, the country could achieve fish feed exports exceeding USD 100 million in 2027, and with this achievement, Turkey could enter the top 10 globally in fish feed exports.

Russia, Tunisia and Uzbekistan among key markets
Öztürk noted that demand for Turkish fish feed is increasing across different geographies, saying that Mediterranean basin countries, Middle East, North Africa and European nations offer significant opportunities for the sector.

In the first half of 2026, the Russian Federation was the largest fish feed market. Turkey exported USD 21.2 million in fish feed to Russia, followed by Tunisia with USD 3.5 million and Uzbekistan with USD 2.4 million.

Turkish fish feed manufacturers also exported USD 1.3 million to Albania and USD 1.2 million to Kyrgyzstan during the same period. The number of countries to which Turkey exports fish feed reached 41.