Turkish Wind Blows at Seafood Expo Global Fair

The three-day event exceeded all expectations, with 2,078 exhibiting companies from 87 different countries, 68 national and regional pavilions and an economic impact for the city estimated at 150 million Euros. With 49,339 net square meters of exhibit space, 24 percent more than in 2022 and 21 percent more than the previous largest event (held in Brussels in 2019), this year’s Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global represents the largest edition ever held — in size and attendance — in the Expo’s history.

Seafood Expo Global, which is considered to be the world’s most important fair in the seafood industry and held for the 29th time this year, brought together more than 2,000 companies from around the world and thousands of industry professionals from over 100 countries.

Türkiye Pavilion of 617 sqm organized by Istanbul Fishery and Animal Products Exporters' Association was in the center of interest.

Tasting events were held during the fair in the national pavilion where 19 companies participated.
 

Turkish Salmon attracted the most attention whose production was growing rapidly in the Black Sea region and its total amount of export exceeded 300 million dollars.

Ms. Selen Evcit, Turkish Consul General in Barcelona has attended and opened the Türkiye Pavilion. ​​As the the main sponsor of the fair's official mobile applications and visual areas Türkiye stood out among other country pavilions with its effective promotional activities and visual designs.

Participating companies stated that they were very satisfied with both the organization and visitor intensity.

Oğulcan Sagun, Vice Chairman of Istanbul Fishery and Animal Products Exporters' Association, who took part in the fair as the head of the Turkish national participation delegation, remarked, “Here in Seafood Expo Fair we have 19 companies participating in the fair with our Association and there are 25 individually participating companies. Türkiye ranks first in the world in sea bream and sea bass and we are pushing the top in trout. Norway is far ahead in salmon, but we have exceeded 300 million dollars in salmon exports with the growth of our production in the Black Sea in the last 5 years. As Türkiye we are capable of exporting more than 50 thousand tons of salmon per year to Russia and Japan and this year we can reach 360 million dollars. Our salmon has a lower fat content than Norwegian salmon and therefore it has become more preferred.” Emphasizing the export amount of 1.3 billion dollars of seafood to 80 countries, including the USA, in 2022, Oğulcan Sagun said, “There may be various restrictions in global trade in chicken and red meat, dairy products, but there is no limit in fish. Therefore, there is a greater trade potential in fish exports. We are also one of the biggest suppliers of tuna used by Japan for sushi and sashimi.”

Müjdat Sezer, Chairman of Istanbul Fishery and Animal Products Exporters' Association, evaluated the export figures for 2022 and announced the new year targets. Sezer said, “Our industry has successfully completed 2022 with an export of over 4 billion dollars. Our aquaculture sector, on the other hand, realized an export of 1.6 billion dollars with an increase of 18 percent compared to the previous year. Our sector was one of the sectors that increased the export unit price at the highest rates among the agricultural sectors last year. In 2022, the kilogram export price of seafood rose from $5.39 to $6.15. We want to achieve our sustainable growth target by raising our kilogram unit price. We aim to increase this rate even higher in shortest time. At present Türkiye is the EU's leading country in sea bream, sea bass and trout. We also get a significant share from Japan with our tuna export. Our 2023 goal is to increase our fisheries exports to 2 billion dollars.” said.

Noting that İSHİB carries out activities aimed at target markets in order to contribute to the country's economy and exports, Association Chairman Sezer said: Türkiye’s national participation organization of Seafood Expo Global, the world's largest seafood fair and held in Barcelona, ​​has been successfully carried out by our association for 17 years. I can easily express that we have made a difference at this fair. Apart from this, our association will provide national participation in the Seafood Expo North America fair next year as well. Our association has been organizing the Turkish national participation of this very important fair for 6 years.