Turkey's egg exports grew by 54 percent in 2026
Turkey's egg exports reached 418.6 million dollars in the first nine months of the year. Due to the impact of global bird flu cases, increased demand in the European market, and the relaxation of export quotas, the year-end target has been raised to 550 million dollars.
Turkey's egg exports reached 418 million 676 thousand dollars in the January-September period of 2026, marking a 54 percent increase compared to the same period last year. According to data from the Aegean Exporters' Associations, this growth in the sector was driven by global bird flu outbreaks and domestic quota regulations.
Bedri Girit, Vice President of the Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association, stated that bird flu cases seen in the USA and some European countries have altered global trade balances. Expressing that this situation has increased Turkey's exports to European Union countries, Girit noted that there has been an increase of nearly 100 percent in markets such as the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Italy, and Belgium.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's decision to increase egg export quotas by approximately 5 times after determining supply sufficiency in the domestic market has been a significant factor supporting foreign sales. In addition to its traditional markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, and Syria, Turkey is also sending products to new markets including The Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Djibouti, Hungary, and Germany.
Assessment: Sector representatives emphasize that Turkey's production capacity, with nearly 100 million laying hens, is sufficient for the domestic market. In line with this capacity and the rise in global demand, the year-end export target, previously set at 500 million dollars, has been revised to 550 million dollars.