Exports of tobacco, one of the traditional export products of the Aegean Region, rose 10% over the past year, climbing from $915 million to $1.004 billion. The tobacco sector surpassed the $1 billion export threshold after 7 years. The sector had last achieved this level of export performance in 2018, with $1.011 billion.
Tobacco exports from the Aegean Region, one of the region's traditional export products, increased by 10% over the past year, rising from USD 915 million to USD 1.004 billion. The tobacco sector exceeded the USD 1 billion export threshold for the first time in 7 years. The sector last achieved an export performance of USD 1.011 billion in 2018.
The Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association, which brings together tobacco exporters in Turkey under its roof, made a successful start to 2025. Exporting USD 368 million during the January-May period of 2024, the Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association increased its exports to USD 394 million in the first five months of 2025, a 7% increase.
In the Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association's USD 394 million export figure, cigarette exports ranked first at USD 206 million, while leaf tobacco exports totaled USD 101.3 million. Smoking tobacco exports reached USD 47 million, while narghile tobacco exports advanced from USD 33.6 million to USD 39.5 million, a 17% increase.
Umur: "Our target is to maintain the USD 1 billion level"
Ömer Celal Umur, Chairman of the Aegean Tobacco Exporters Association, stated that global cigarette consumption is following a flat trajectory. In this environment, tobacco and tobacco product exports have not increased in volume terms. He noted that the sector has achieved a 7% increase in export revenues thanks to rising average export prices, and that the sector's target is to maintain the USD 1 billion level.
Drawing attention to the requirement that the ratio of domestic tobacco in cigarettes produced in Turkey must be 30% starting from 2025, Umur stated: "For this reason, production of large-leaf Virginia and Burley tobacco has increased. Out of our 73 million kilos of tobacco production, 30 million kilos consist of large-leaf tobacco varieties. Large-leaf Virginia and Burley tobacco are currently used only in the domestic market. As the quality of this production increases, it will also contribute to tobacco exports. Due to the increase in the ratio of domestic tobacco use, we expect some increase in tobacco production in the 2025 season. We may reach 80 million kilos of production in 2025."
Iraq leads in cigarette and narghile tobacco exports; USA tops in leaf tobacco exports
Turkey increased cigarette exports by 11% from USD 185 million to USD 206 million, with Iraq ranking first in cigarette exports. Cigarette exports to Iraq rose from USD 39.6 million in the January-May period of 2024 to USD 56.6 million, a 43% increase. The USA ranked second with demand for USD 21.5 million, while cigarette exports to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus increased by 33% from USD 9.2 million to USD 12.3 million.
The USA ranked first in leaf tobacco exports with demand for USD 31 million of Turkish tobacco, while Indonesia imported USD 15 million of leaf tobacco. Iran ranked third with leaf tobacco imports of USD 11.5 million.
Iraq clearly led narghile tobacco exports with demand of USD 15.7 million. The USA ranked second in narghile tobacco exports with USD 3.7 million, followed by Guinea in third place with USD 2.6 million.
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