by Mehmet Uğur Gürkaynak, International Aquafeed and Fish Farming Technology
Türkiye’s aquaculture and animal products sector increased its exports by 6.3 percent compared with the same period last year, reaching US$2669 million in the January–August period of 2026. The sector’s share of Türkiye’s total exports stood at 1.4 percent.
Aquaculture products accounted for a significant proportion of the sector’s total exports. With exports totalling US$1.5 billion during the January–August period, aquatic products were the sub-sector with the highest export value.
Russia was the largest export market
The Russian Federation was the largest market for Türkiye’s aquatic products and animal products sector, for exports, during the first eight months of 2026. Exports to Russia totalled US$319.3 million, whilst growth in this market remained at 2 percent.
Although Iraq ranked second with exports worth US$232.7 million, it recorded a 28 percent decline. Italy, meanwhile, took third place with exports worth US$230.9 million and showed an 11 percent increase. The Netherlands and Greece also featured among Türkiye’s key export markets. Exports to the Netherlands rose by 25 percent to US$184.7 million, whilst exports to Greece increased by 28 percent to US$170.4 million.
The highest growth rate by market was recorded in Poland. Türkiye’s sector exports to this country rose by 237 percent to US$45.8 million. Exports to Belarus rose by 97 percent to US$49.2 million, whilst exports to Ghana rose by 39 percent to US$32.9 million.
On the other hand, some markets experienced a decline. Exports to Syria fell by 61 percent to US$52.6 million, whilst a 28 percent decline was observed in Iraq and a 5 percent decline in France. Exports to France totalled US$35.9 million.
European markets led the way in seafood exports
The Russian Federation also retained its top position in Türkiye’s seafood exports. Seafood exports to this country rose by 4 percent to reach US$277.9 million.
Italy ranked second with US$201.4 million, whilst the Netherlands came third with US$177.8 million. The increase in the Italian market was 5 percent, whilst exports to the Netherlands rose by 22 percent. Exports to Greece rose by 25 percent to US$165.3 million, whilst exports to the United Kingdom increased by 14 percent to US$141.4 million.
The performance of the leading seafood markets highlighted the strong trend in Türkiye’s exports to Europe. Double-digit increases were recorded in particular in the Netherlands, Greece and the United Kingdom.
Changes in both volume and value of seafood exports also attracted attention. Whilst the export value rose by 14.8 percent, the increase in volume remained at 2.2 percent, indicating a rise in the average unit value of exports during the period.
The results for the first eight months of 2026 demonstrated that growth in Türkiye’s aquaculture and animal products sector exports is continuing, whilst market-specific variations and the rise in the value of aquaculture products were among the key developments in the sector’s foreign trade performance.
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