Aegean Exporters Intensify Contacts for Value-Added Exports to the Chinese Market

The Aegean Exporters’ Associations (EİB) carried out the Türkiye National Participation Organization for the ninth time at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai, China on 5-10 November 2026. B2B meetings with Chinese importers were organized as part of the fair, in which 14 Turkish companies operating in the food, cosmetics, textile and services sectors took part. The EİB delegation also visited YTO Express, one of China’s leading logistics companies, to evaluate cooperation opportunities aimed at increasing the access and visibility of Turkish products in the Chinese market.

EİB, which continues its efforts to achieve a more balanced structure in foreign trade between Türkiye and China and to increase the share of Turkish exporters in the Chinese market, held various contacts with Chinese importers and business representatives throughout the fair. Thanks to the B2B event that brought together participating Turkish companies and Chinese buyers, opportunities were created for companies to promote their products and establish new trade connections.

During the EİB delegation’s visit to YTO Express, logistics facilities and potential cooperation opportunities that could facilitate Turkish exporters’ access to the Chinese market were discussed.

Öztürk: “Our goal is to increase our value-added exports to China”

Aegean Exporters’ Associations Coordinator Chairman Muhammet Öztürk, noting that China is one of the world’s largest import markets, stated that efforts to increase Türkiye’s exports to this market have been ongoing for a long time.

Noting that Türkiye’s exports to China reached approximately 3 billion dollars in the January-September period of 2026, up 41 percent, Öztürk stated that EİB’s exports to China in the same period rose 43 percent to reach 542 million dollars.

Stating that the Chinese market holds significant opportunities for Turkish exporters, Öztürk said that in addition to the volume of exports, they also aim to increase the value added of the products. Noting that mining and industrial products hold a significant place in exports to China, Öztürk stated that they want to achieve a stronger position in consumer-focused sectors such as food, healthy and natural products, cosmetics and personal care in the coming period.

Stating that Chinese consumers’ expectations regarding quality, product content and reliability present opportunities for Turkish companies, Öztürk emphasized that in order to seize these opportunities, the market needs to be understood closely, the right business partners need to be found, and the products need to be effectively explained to Chinese consumers.

Öztürk pointed to the importance of the fair being evaluated within the scope of the “Turkish Export Products Fair” by the Ministry of Trade in the coming years and the participation of companies receiving Turquality brand support, and spoke as follows:

“China is a market that holds very important opportunities for Türkiye. However, here we aim not only to increase the volume of our exports but also to raise the value added of the products we export. Today, mining and industrial products hold a significant place in our exports to China. In the coming period, we want to achieve a stronger position in consumer-focused sectors such as food, healthy and natural products, cosmetics and personal care products. Chinese consumers’ expectations regarding quality, product content and reliability present significant opportunities for our Turkish companies. In order to be able to seize these opportunities, we need to get to know the Chinese market more closely, meet the right business partners, and better explain our products to Chinese consumers. In order to demonstrate how high-quality our production is, I believe it is very important that the fair be evaluated within the scope of the ‘Turkish Export Products Fair’ by our Ministry of Trade in the coming years, and that our companies with Turquality brand support participate in this fair. I believe that ensuring the participation of our companies from different sectors receiving Turquality support in this fair, through our Ministry, is the best way to demonstrate our product quality, the level we have reached in technology, and our strength in design as a country.”

Stating that the B2B meetings held within the scope of the fair enabled companies to establish direct contact with potential buyers, Öztürk stated that logistics infrastructure and distribution opportunities were also discussed during the YTO Express visit. Emphasizing that the right logistics and distribution infrastructure is of great importance for the sustainability of exports in a vast market like China, Öztürk said that fair participations, trade delegations and bilateral contacts will continue in line with the goal of raising exports to China to 10 billion dollars in the medium term.

Göksan: “The way to reach the consumer in China is through digital platforms”

EİB Deputy Coordinator Chairman and Aegean Exporters’ Association of Textiles Chairman of the Board Turan Göksan stated that social media and digital communication channels play an important role in shaping consumer preferences in the Chinese market.

Noting that product discovery and shopping processes in China are largely conducted through e-commerce platforms, Göksan stated that Turkish companies need to place greater emphasis on digital promotion activities in order to remain permanent in the market.

Göksan said, “In China, social media and e-commerce platforms are very effective in consumers’ processes of discovering, researching and purchasing products. For this reason, it is not enough for our companies that want to succeed in the Chinese market to simply be present at fairs. They need to promote their products on digital channels throughout the year and establish direct communication with Chinese consumers. As the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, we have long been promoting our activities, fair participations and the products of our Turkish companies through our WeChat account. In the coming period, we aim to update the structure of this account to make our communication with the Chinese market more effective. We want to strengthen communication between us and Chinese buyers by giving more space to the promotion of our companies and their products,” he said.

Balık: “The protocol that will pave the way for cherry exports must be designed correctly”

Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association Chairman of the Board Cengiz Balık stated that Türkiye has significant opportunities in fresh fruit exports to the Chinese market, and said that the start of cherry exports in particular carries great importance for the sector.

Stating that they are waiting for the completion of technical and phytosanitary protocols between Türkiye and China that will enable cherry exports, Balık emphasized that the process needs to be designed with the sector’s long-term needs also taken into account.

Balık said, “Türkiye has significant potential in cherry production. China, with its high consumption capacity, is an important market for our sector. We expect that with the completion of the necessary protocols between the two countries, the way will be paved for Turkish cherries to enter the Chinese market. However, there is an important point here: the protocol to be made needs to be designed correctly. It is of great importance that all processes, from production to packaging, from the cold chain to phytosanitary controls, are arranged in a way that meets the needs of our sector and ensures the sustainability of our exports. Our aim is not only to carry out the first export, but to create a Turkish cherry presence in the Chinese market that will continue for many years,” he said.

Demir: “The increase in seafood exports is encouraging but not sufficient”

Aegean Seafood and Animal Products Exporters’ Association Chairman Ufuk Atakan Demir stated that there has been an increase in exports following the seafood export protocols signed between Türkiye and China in October 2025, but that the current potential has not yet been fully utilized.

Noting that a certain increase was observed in seafood exports following the protocols, Demir said that Türkiye is mainly able to export salmon and tuna to China, while products such as sea bass and sea bream, for which there is strong production capacity, have not yet entered the Chinese market. He noted that they are waiting for the completion of the necessary technical processes in order for the exports of these products to begin.

Demir also drew attention to the need to remove the obstacles to chicken feet exports, stating that Türkiye has significant production and export capacity in this product, while China has serious demand. He stated that the completion of the necessary permits and protocols would contribute to the development of trade between the two countries.

The Aegean Exporters’ Associations will continue to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market in the coming period through fair participations, trade delegations, sectoral cooperation and digital promotion activities. With these efforts, EİB aims for Turkish exporters to reach more buyers in China and for trade relations between Türkiye and China to diversify and achieve a more balanced and sustainable structure.