Türkiye's Seafood Exports Surpass $2 Billion

Turkey's aquaculture sector, one of the stars of Turkish exports, increased its exports by 20% in 2024, rising from USD 1.679 billion to USD 2.019 billion. The aquaculture sector is celebrating crossing the USD 2 billion threshold for the first time.

Sinan Kızıltan, Chairman of the Sector Board of Turkey's Aquaculture Products and Animal Products Exporters Associations, noted that Turkey made major investments in the aquaculture sector after 2000. He stated that exports which amounted to USD 59 million to around 10 countries in 2000 have reached USD 2.019 billion by the end of 2024, with the number of export destinations increasing to 91, representing approximately 34-fold growth. He also expressed that they are targeting USD 2.5 billion in exports for 2025.

Kızıltan, pointing out that Turkey's aquaculture production has reached 1 million 8 thousand tonnes, explained: "Turkish aquaculture production and exports have made great progress, particularly with investments made in recent years. Over the past 25 years, Turkish entrepreneurs have brought some of the world's most modern and integrated facilities in the aquaculture and animal products sector to our country, which is one of the factors increasing exports. In Turkey, 553 thousand tonnes of aquaculture products were obtained through farming. Farming's share has reached 55% of the total. Norway, with an 8 million population, earns USD 13 billion in foreign currency from aquaculture exports. Turkey has the potential to reach these figures."

Sea bass maintains top position
Sea bass maintained its leadership in aquaculture exports with USD 570 million. Sea bass exports showed a 10% increase compared to 2023.

The top three countries for sea bass exports were the United Kingdom with USD 126 million, Italy with USD 85 million, and the Netherlands with USD 84 million.

Sea bream, the second most exported fish species in Turkey's aquaculture sector, increased its exports by 22%, rising from USD 417 million to USD 508 million.

In sea bream exports, Italy ranked first with USD 100 million, followed by Greece with USD 75 million and the Netherlands with USD 72 million.

Turkish salmon exports approach USD 500 million
Turkish salmon exports, which amounted to USD 350 million in 2023, reached USD 497 million in 2024 with a 31% increase. The Russian Federation maintained its clear lead in Turkish salmon exports with USD 356 million, while Germany received USD 36 million and Vietnam received USD 26 million in Turkish salmon.

Tuna exports in 2024 surged by a record 153%, rising from USD 51 million to USD 129 million.

The largest share of our tuna exports, amounting to USD 99 million, was directed to Japan, while South Korea purchased USD 29 million in tuna.

Trout exports amounted to USD 117 million, while rock sea bass exports generated USD 25.5 million in foreign currency. Other aquaculture products exports increased by 16%, rising from USD 181 million to USD 210 million. Germany led as the primary country with USD 52 million in trout demand, followed by Russia with USD 18 million and the Netherlands with USD 9.5 million.