Turkey exports 177 tons of small fish to 11 countries

By Meltem Yilmaz

TRABZON (AA) - Turkey has exported 177 tons of hamsi, a small local fish, to 11 countries since the opening of the season on Sept. 1, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.

The revenues from exports of hamsi -- also called European anchovy -- in September reached $928,023, up 87 percent from the same period last year, data from the Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association (DKIB) showed.

The volume of hamsi exports also rose 96 percent in the first month of the fishing season, while it stood at 90 tons during the same period in 2017, with some $495,150 of revenue.

Saffet Kalyoncu, chairman of the DKIB, said he is pleased with the rise in exports, as well the increase in importing countries.

"Hamsi is an important export product for the economy," he stressed.

Kalyoncu noted that they have received a "significant demand" for hamsi from European countries.

He also added that the U.S., Britain, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Greece and Switzerland -- which did not import the fish from Turkey during the same period last year -- are also among the countries that increased their export potential.

"In this context, we expect our hamsi exports to increase further during the season," Kalyoncu said.

He mentioned that DKIB expects more exports in the coming months with higher foreign exchange inputs.

The data showed the top buyer of Turkish hamsi in September was France ($372,165), followed by Belgium ($303,211) and the U.S. ($138,998).

The Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association is a non-governmental institution -- under the jurisdiction of the Turkish Exporters Assembly -- consisting of over 1,500 members, according to its website.