Ege Aquaculture and Animal Products Exporters' Association Surpasses USD 2 Billion in Exports
The Aegean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters' Association increased its exports by 13.5% over the past year, raising the figure from USD 1 billion 763 million to USD 2 billion 1 million. While the association grew its exports 40-fold over 25 years, it single-handedly accounted for nearly half of Turkey's total exports of aquatic products and animal products.
The Aegean Water Products and Animal Products Exporters Association increased its exports by 13.5% over the past year, raising them from USD 1.763 billion to USD 2.001 billion. Over 25 years, the association has grown its exports 40-fold while single-handedly achieving approximately half of Turkey's water products and animal products exports.
The Aegean Water Products and Animal Products Exporters Association (ESÜHMIB), which produces to meet global protein demand, has reached the USD 2 billion export threshold, marking a significant achievement.
The association, which achieved USD 50 million in exports in 2001, has increased its exports approximately 40-fold over the past 25 years, bringing them to USD 2.001 billion.
With this performance, ESÜHMIB single-handedly realizes approximately 50% of Turkey's water products and animal products exports, while becoming the first food exporter association within the Aegean Exporters Associations (EIB) to reach the USD 2 billion export level.
Exports increased by 13.5%
Aegean Water Products and Animal Products Exporters Association Chairman Ufuk Atakan Demir noted that exports increased by 13.5% over the past year.
Demir stated: "We raised our exports from USD 1.763 billion to USD 2.001 billion. With our 13.5% export increase, we became the association with the highest export growth among 12 exporter associations."
The association has also maintained its leading position in food exports within EIB for five years.
80% of USD 2 billion exports come from water products
The water products sector represented the largest share in ESÜHMIB's export performance.
Over the past year, water products exports reached USD 1.596 billion, with the sector accounting for approximately 80% of the association's total exports.
By product category, seabass led exports at USD 682 million. Seabass exports were followed by gilthead bream at USD 524 million and Turkish salmon at USD 253 million.
The export performance of other sectors developed as follows:
Eggs: USD 169.5 million
Poultry products: USD 137.5 million
Dairy products: USD 39.5 million
Honey: USD 15.5 million
Number of export markets rises to 122
ESÜHMIB's export markets continue to expand. In the period from 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2026, the number of countries exports are sent to increased from 118 to 122.
Italy ranked first by country with USD 255 million in exports. Russia, which held first place the previous year, moved to second place with USD 241 million in exports.
Greece ranked third with USD 236 million, followed by the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America, Iraq, Poland, United Arab Emirates and Germany.
New milestone for Aegean food exports
ESÜHMIB's achievement of USD 2 billion in export level represents an important milestone in the Aegean Exporters Associations' food exports.
The association's export performance, which has grown from USD 50 million to over USD 2 billion over 25 years, reveals the growth potential of the water products, eggs, poultry, dairy products and honey sectors in international markets while strengthening Turkey's position in value-added food exports.
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