Aegean Region Builds Spice Bridge to Europe

The European Spice Association (ESA) 2026 General Assembly held in Ghent, Belgium brought together leading representatives of the spices and medicinal aromatic plants sector. At the event, which addressed the sector's technical agenda, sustainability efforts, food safety practices and regulations affecting international trade, Turkey demonstrated strong representation.

The ESA General Assembly, held annually under the hosting of a different member country, took place this year in Ghent under the hosting of the Belgian Spice Association (BSA). The organization, attended by international sector representatives, technical experts, public authorities and stakeholders, ranked among the most important meetings of the European spices sector.

Şükrü Altuntaş, Board Member of the Aegean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association, spoke as a panelist during the session on Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA) held as part of the General Assembly. Altuntaş shared the views of the Turkish spices and medicinal aromatic plants sector with international participants by evaluating the main challenges encountered in the process from agricultural production to final product from the perspectives of farmers, processors and exporters.

Turkey's Production Capacity Presented to International Participants
Within the scope of the event, a product and season assessment presentation titled "Turkish Herbs" was delivered by Sayıl Gündem, a representative of Altuntaş Group, a member firm of the Aegean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association. The presentation shared Turkey's production season in the medicinal and aromatic plants sector, product outlook, harvest expectations and forecasts for 2026 with international sector representatives.

During the contacts held throughout the General Assembly, Turkey's strong production capacity, quality standards and export potential in the sector came to the fore. In addition, the work of the Aegean Exporters Associations and the Aegean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association towards the sector's development was also shared with participants.

Altuntaş: "We Target USD 1 Billion in Spice Exports Within 10 Years"
In his assessments regarding the ESA 2026 General Assembly, Şükrü Altuntaş, Board Member of the Aegean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association, said:

"We hosted the ESA General Assembly as Turkey back in 2022. This year we participated in the General Assembly with intensive preparation. It was a demanding but highly productive organization for our sector. Our mission is not only to conduct our own commercial activities but to represent our country's spices and medicinal aromatic plants sector on international platforms in the strongest possible way on behalf of all our stakeholders.

In the January-May period of 2026, Turkey's spice exports reached USD 112 million with a 14 percent increase. Spice exports from our association increased 20 percent, rising to USD 78 million. 69 percent of Turkey's spice exports are carried out from the Aegean Region.

ESA not only contributes to the development of commercial cooperation; it also enables the establishment of strong communication networks among sector stakeholders and the conduct of effective lobbying activities at the international level. With the contribution of new commercial connections to be established following this organization, we aim to raise our spice exports to USD 1 billion level within the next 10 years. I would like to thank the Aegean Furniture Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association Board of Directors and the Non-Wood Forest Products Technical Committee for their continuous support during this period."

It is expected that the discussions and new business connections established within the scope of the ESA 2026 General Assembly will further strengthen the Turkish spices and medicinal aromatic plants sector's position in the European market. Sector representatives emphasize that they will continue to increase international cooperation in line with sustainable growth and value-added export targets.