Egg exports increased by 54 percent

According to the data of the Aegean Exporters' Association, Türkiye's exports of animal products, excluding aquatic products, amounted to 1 billion 275 million 293 thousand dollars in return for a product shipment of 667 thousand 143 tons in the January-September period.

During the said period, the egg sector took the first place in the export of animal products. The sector, which exported 271 million 430 thousand dollars in the 9 months of last year, increased its foreign sales by 54 percent to 418 million 676 thousand dollars in the same period this year.

The largest share in egg exports was table and hatching eggs. Exports of table chicken eggs increased by 132.4 percent in value terms to 153 million 150 thousand dollars. Hatching chicken egg exports amounted to 245 million 512 thousand dollars.

Bedri Girit, Vice President of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters Association, told the AA correspondent that the rise in exports was due to domestic market dynamics and diseases in the global poultry sector.

Pointing out that climate changes and diseases affect the productivity of the global poultry industry, Girit said, "The occurrence of bird flu in some countries, such as the USA and 5 European countries, changes the balances in world trade and sometimes an exporting country can become an importer. This situation enabled us to send a lot of products, especially to the European Union countries." he said.

He stated that there was a nearly 100 percent increase in exports to countries such as Crete, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Italy and Belgium.

Explaining that the relaxation of export quotas for small-sized eggs in the domestic market also supports foreign sales, Girit said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry increased the quotas approximately 5 times after determining that the production amount was sufficient and there was no fluctuation in prices.

THE MAIN MARKETS OF THE SECTOR ARE THE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES

Stating that the egg is sold mainly to the nearby geography due to its 60-day shelf life and logistic conditions, Crete stated that the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and Syria continue to be the main markets of the sector.

Crete said that in addition to existing countries, African countries such as Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Djibouti, as well as Hungary and Germany, have become new markets.

Emphasizing that Türkiye uses the latest technology in the poultry sector and that the production capacity is more than sufficient for the domestic market, Girit stated that the sector in Türkiye has nearly 100 million laying hens.

Girit continued his words as follows:

"There is nothing to worry about in the supply-demand balance. Ex-producer prices have never exceeded 4 lira. If the consumer buys from the market or market at a higher price, this is, of course, an issue beyond our control."