Türkiye's Agricultural Products Exports Reached 27.1 Billion Dollars

Türkiye increased its agricultural products exports by 4 percent in the January-September period of 2026 compared to the same period last year, raising the figure to 27.1 billion dollars. The country's annual agricultural products exports exceeded 37.5 billion dollars. The Aegean Region held a significant share in Türkiye's agricultural exports with an annual export performance of 7.8 billion dollars.

Aegean Exporters' Associations Coordinator Chairman Muhammet Öztürk, in a statement made on the occasion of World Food Day, drew attention to Türkiye's success in food products exports and the Aegean Region's leading position in the sector.

Türkiye Exports Food Products to 175 Countries

Türkiye, which stands out worldwide in products such as hazelnuts, dried figs, dried apricots, raisins, sea bass, sea bream, bay leaf, thyme and cherries, exports food products to 175 countries. With its fertile lands and diverse climatic conditions, the country has a broad agricultural production capacity and aims to strengthen its position in agricultural and food products exports.

The Aegean Region stands out in agricultural exports with a wide range of products ranging from hazelnuts to dried figs, and from seafood to olive oil. The region's annual exports of 7.8 billion dollars constitute 21 percent of Türkiye's total agricultural products exports.

Seedless Raisins, Sea Bass and Sea Bream Top the List

5 billion 125 million dollars' worth of agricultural products were exported from the Aegean Region in the January-September period of 2026. In this period, seedless raisins ranked first with 331 million dollars in exports. Sea bass with 258 million dollars, sea bream with 239 million dollars, sunflower oil with 174 million dollars and soybean oil with 147 million dollars were the other products that stood out.

Food products were shipped from the region to 169 countries. The United States was the country to which the Aegean Region exported the most agricultural products with 388 million dollars, while the United Kingdom ranked second with 357 million dollars, and the Russian Federation ranked third with 313 million dollars. These countries were followed by Italy with 300 million dollars and Germany with 296 million dollars.

Turkish Food Sector Promoted Through International Fairs

The Aegean Exporters' Associations carry out Türkiye national participation organizations at major fairs in order to increase the visibility of the Turkish food sector in international markets. New York Fancy Food, Natural Products Expo West in California, Foodex in Japan, the Biofach Organic Products Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, and the China International Import Expo are among the prominent organizations in this scope.

EİB Coordinator Chairman Muhammet Öztürk noted that the Turkish Tastes TURQUALITY Project, which has been carried out for eight years to increase the consumption of Turkish food products in the United States, one of the world's largest food importers, is continuing. Öztürk stated that during the course of the project, Türkiye's food exports to the United States reached a level of 2 billion dollars, up from 750 million dollars.

Öztürk stated that they carry out efforts to increase exports through sectoral trade delegations and buying delegations, and noted that Türkiye's agricultural products exports could reach 50 billion dollars in the medium term.

Aegean Region's Agricultural Exports Target Is 10 Billion Dollars

The Aegean Exporters' Associations aim to raise agricultural products exports to 8 billion dollars by the end of 2026. Muhammet Öztürk stated that with the start of production at the agriculture-based specialized organized industrial zones established in İzmir, they foresee the Aegean Region's agricultural products exports reaching 10 billion dollars in the medium term.

Aegean Region Has a High Share in Sea Bass and Sea Bream Exports

The Aegean Region has a significant share in Türkiye's seafood exports. In 2025, of Türkiye's 570 million dollars' worth of sea bass exports, 511 million dollars, or 90 percent, were made from the Aegean Region. In the same year, of Türkiye's 507 million dollars' worth of sea bream exports, 453 million dollars' worth was made by the Aegean Region. In Türkiye's 107 million dollars' worth of trout exports, the region's share was 67 million dollars, or 56 percent.

Aegean Signature in Pickles and Sun-Dried Tomato Exports

In pickle exports, in which Türkiye is the world leader, pickled peppers and gherkins stand out. Of the 130 million dollars' worth of pickled pepper exports made in the January-September period of 2026, 101 million dollars was made from the Aegean Region. In the same period, of the 129 million dollars' worth of gherkin pickle exports, 94 million dollars' worth was made by Aegean exporters.

The Aegean Region also has a significant share in sun-dried tomato exports, in which Türkiye ranks second in the world. Of the total 132 million dollars' worth of sun-dried tomato exports, 118 million dollars was made from the region.

Aegean Region's Share in Olive and Olive Oil Exports

Türkiye made 273 million dollars' worth of olive and olive oil exports in the January-September period of 2026. Of these exports, 63 percent were carried out by members of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association.

The Aegean Region's share in Türkiye's 82 million dollars' worth of olive oil exports reached 83 percent. Of the 168 million dollars' worth of revenue obtained from table olive exports, 88 million dollars came from members of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association.

Strong Global Position in Dried Fruit, Thyme and Bay Leaf

In Türkiye's 465 million dollars' worth of raisin exports in the 2025/26 season, Aegean exporters' share was 98 percent. Of Türkiye's 354 million dollars' worth of dried fig exports, 80 percent was made from the Aegean Region.

Türkiye also stands out in world markets in thyme and bay leaf exports. According to sectoral sources, the country meets approximately 70-75 percent of world thyme trade and approximately 90 percent of world bay leaf demand.

In the January-September period of 2026, Türkiye's thyme exports reached 80.2 million dollars, of which 76.3 million dollars' worth was carried out by members of the Aegean Exporters' Associations. Thus, 95 percent of Türkiye's thyme exports were made from the Aegean Region.

In the same period, Türkiye's bay leaf exports amounted to 37.9 million dollars, while exports by members of the Aegean Exporters' Associations reached 23.2 million dollars. The Aegean Region's share in bay leaf exports was recorded as 61.2 percent.