Turkey's Aquaculture and Animal Products Exports Surpass $4 Billion in 2025

Turkey's aquaculture and animal products sector, which supplies three-quarters of the country's protein needs, concluded 2025 with a 5% export increase. Sector exports rose from USD 3.862 billion in 2024 to USD 4.046 billion in 2025.

Sinan Kızıltan, Chairman of the Sector Board of Turkish Aquaculture and Animal Products Exporters' Associations, noted that sector exports reached USD 4.046 billion with a 123% increase over the past 10 years, up from USD 1.184 billion in 2015, and stated, "The sector has become one of the stars of exports."

Aquaculture Leads with 55% Share in Exports
Within total exports, the aquaculture sector held the highest share at USD 2.243 billion. Aquaculture's share in the sector's total exports was 55%.

Sinan Kızıltan made the following assessments:
-The poultry and egg sector maintained its 2024 level with a performance of USD 1.120 billion despite quotas and export restrictions.

-Poultry meat exports increased 8% from USD 671 million to USD 723 million.

-Egg exports declined 14% in 2025 due to an export levy introduced that year, falling from USD 463 million to USD 397 million.

-Dairy and dairy products sector exports increased 13%, rising from USD 363 million to USD 409 million.

-Milk powder, which increased exports by 60%, rose from USD 47.4 million to USD 78 million, becoming the locomotive of dairy products exports.

-Turkey, the world's second-largest honey producer, achieved USD 33.5 million in honey exports in 2025.

2026 Target: USD 4.3 Billion in Exports
Kızıltan announced that the sector's 2026 export target has been set at USD 4.3 billion. He listed the priority areas that will enhance competitiveness in 2026 as follows:

✔ Value-added product exports
✔ Sustainability and traceability
✔ Cost efficiency
✔ Market diversification
✔ Risk management

Kızıltan noted that UR-GE projects, the Turkish Seafood Turquality Project, planned international trade fairs and active roles in international organizations will support exports, and shared the target of USD 2.5 billion in aquaculture exports by the end of 2027.

"In particular, increasing the share of processed, packaged and branded products will permanently strengthen our export revenues," he said.

Sustainability Has Become a Requirement
Noting that compliance requirements have increased in many markets, particularly in the EU, Kızıltan emphasized that sustainability-focused production is no longer a preference but a necessity. He stressed the importance of practices that provide efficiency in feed, energy and logistics costs and economies of scale.

Stating that dependence on nearby markets needs to be reduced, Kızıltan said:
"Animal diseases such as avian influenza, climate impacts and biosecurity practices will continue to be core topics of risk management in the sector."

Sea Bream Leads Turkish Aquaculture Exports
Data on the sector's 2025 aquaculture performance are as follows:

-Sea bass exports increased 17% in 2025,
rising from USD 570 million to USD 666 million.

-Sea bream exports rose with a 15% increase
from USD 507 million to USD 585 million.

-Turkish salmon exports increased 14%,
reaching USD 521 million from USD 458 million.

For other products:

-Other aquaculture products: USD 193 million

-Tuna: USD 123 million

-Trout: USD 122 million

-Grouper: USD 32.7 million

45% of Exports from Aegean Region
The Aegean Aquaculture and Animal Products Exporters' Association increased its exports by 7% in 2025, rising from USD 1.724 billion to USD 1.840 billion. The Aegean Region thus achieved 45% of total exports on its own.