Türkiye Poultry Exports: A Bullish, Growth Story


This article provides a comprehensive analysis of Turkey’s poultry-related products exports to the Middle East, focusing on the export value, trends, and signs of growth as of April 7, 2025.

The analysis is grounded in available trade data, industry reports, and economic indicators, aiming to offer a detailed perspective for stakeholders interested in agricultural trade dynamics. The report covers last year (2024) and Q1 2025, with projections for Q2 2025, and includes all poultry-related products, such as poultry meat, hatching eggs and only a fraction of the actual poultry farming equipment due to lack of available trade data and conflicting HS codes.

Turkey’s poultry-related products, including meat, live birds, eggs (especially hatching eggs), and related equipment, were exported to the Middle East with an estimated value of about $1.1 billion in 2024. This figure is based on trade data and projections, considering the strong demand in the region, particularly for halal-certified products.

Growth Trends and Recent Performance


For Q1 2025 (January to March), the export value is estimated at around $275 million, assuming it represents about 25% of the annual value. Recent reports indicate continued growth, supported by increased production and export forecasts, with a projected annual value for 2025 around $1.1 billion, consistent with 2024 trends. However, the actual figures might be higher.

Bullish Signs and Market Dynamics


There are positive indicators for Turkey’s poultry exports, including its ability to supply halal-certified products and proximity to Middle Eastern markets, particularly Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia. These factors suggest sustained demand and growth potential, despite challenges like high feed costs and regional instability.

Export Value Estimation

To estimate the value of Turkey’s poultry-related products exports to the Middle East, we focused on key categories such as poultry meat (HS code 0207), live fowls (HS 0105), and eggs (HS 0407), given their prominence in trade statistics. For 2024, research suggests that chicken meat exports to the Middle East were around $784 million, based on a production forecast of 2.3 million metric tons (MMT) and an assumed 80% export share to the Middle East at an average price of $2,000 per metric ton. For live fowls, 2022 data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) indicates exports worth $57 million, with an estimated 80% ($45.6 million) to the Middle East, assuming similar trends in 2024. For eggs, including hatching eggs, 2023 estimates suggest total egg exports of around $300 million, with 80% ($240 million) to the Middle East, based on historical growth from 2019 data ($247 million for January-October).

Summing these, the total export value for 2024 is approximately $1,069.6 million, rounded to $1.1 billion for simplicity.

For farming equipment, specific data is challenging to isolate, as it falls under various machinery HS codes (e.g., HS 8436 for agricultural machinery). Given the complexity, this analysis primarily focuses on poultry meat, live birds, and eggs, acknowledging that poultry farming equipment may contribute a significant, unidentified portion, that is excluded from this analysis.

Growth Trends and Historical Context

For Q1 2025, given the current date of April 7, 2025, and potential data lags, we estimate the export value at least $275 million, assuming Q1 represents 25% of the annual value based on seasonal trends. This is a rough estimate, as precise Q1 2025 data may not yet be fully available.

Historical data underscores a growing trend in Turkey’s poultry exports to the Middle East. A 2014 USDA report highlighted Turkey as the world’s sixth-largest poultry exporter, with almost all exports directed to Middle East markets, especially Iraq, due to proximity, halal certification, and preference for whole broilers. By 2021, Poultry World reported Turkey exported 563,274 metric tons of chicken meat (excluding paws) valued at $857 million, indicating significant market penetration. The 2023 USDA forecast for 2024 production at 2.3 MMT, with exports at 490,000 MT, suggests sustained growth, driven by stronger foreign demand and production efficiency. For Q1 2025, early indicators from industry reports suggest continued momentum, though exact figures are pending.

Several factors indicate bullish signs for Turkey’s poultry exports to the Middle East. Firstly, Turkey’s geographical proximity and ability to supply halal-certified products give it a competitive edge over competitors, as noted in the 2014 USDA report. Secondly, increasing demand in the region, driven by population growth and economic development, is evident from reports like the Middle East Poultry Meat Market analysis by Mordor Intelligence, which projects market growth to $17.83 billion by 2030. Thirdly, specific country dynamics, such as the re-opening of the Iraq market for Turkish eggs in mid-2022 and strong export figures to Saudi Arabia and UAE, reinforce this trend. Additionally, political and economic shifts, such as Turkey halting trade with Israel in 2024, may have indirectly boosted poultry exports to other Middle Eastern markets, though specific data on this is limited.

Comparison:

To provide context, let’s compare Turkey’s poultry industry with Brazil, the United States, and Thailand—key players in the global poultry market with comparable export-oriented sectors:

• Brazil: The world’s largest poultry exporter, Brazil’s total poultry meat exports reached about 4.6 million metric tons (MT) in 2022, valued at roughly $8 billion globally. Middle East exports (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE) accounted for approximately $2.5 billion in 2024, based on USDA estimates and market shares. Brazil’s scale dwarfs Turkey’s, but its focus is broader, not Middle East-specific.

• United States: The U.S. exported 3.36 million MT of broiler meat in 2022, valued at $5 billion globally, with Middle East exports (e.g., UAE, Saudi Arabia) around $0.5 billion in 2024. Turkey outperforms the U.S. in this region due to proximity and halal preferences.

• Thailand: Exported about 0.3 million MT in 2022, valued at $1 billion globally, with Middle East exports estimated at $0.2 billion in 2024. Thailand’s smaller scale and focus on Asia limit its regional impact compared to Turkey.

Conclusion:

Turkey’s $1.1 billion to the Middle East in 2024 positions it as a regional leader, surpassing the U.S. and Thailand in this market, though it trails Brazil’s global dominance. Turkey’s advantage lies in its halal certification and proximity, driving for a higher market-share in the Middle East.