Turkey exports honey to 33 countries in first 6 months

By Meltem Yilmaz

TRABZON, Turkey (AA) - Turkey earned revenues of over $15.9 million after exporting over 3,706 tons of honey to 33 countries in the first half of 2018, according to Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association (DKIB) data.

Turkey increased its amount of honey exports by 64 percent from January to June period year-on-year, and registered some 77 percent hike in value, compared to the same period last year.

The data showed the top three buyers of Turkish honey were Germany, the U.S. and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Germany took first place with $7.94 million followed by the U.S. ($3.45 million) and Saudi Arabia ($936,298).

The total of 22 tons of honey amounting $146,120 was exported from Turkey's Eastern Black Sea region to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar during the Jan-June period, DKIB said.

DKIB Chairman Saffet Kalyoncu told Anadolu Agency that the region has shown interest in chestnut and highland flower honey.

"In recent years, the Turkish honey exports as a branded product have started to develop every passing day due to the advantages offered by rich flora and endemic plant diversity in our country," he added.

Kalyoncu also said that Turkey's honey was mainly exported to Germany, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, while the biggest rise in exports was registered in Spain and Oman.

"Our exports are constantly rising and we believe we will come to a much better point by the end of the year," Kalyoncu said.

Turkey last year earned $23.8 million in revenue from honey exports to 45 countries, according to DKIB.