According to the information compiled from the records of the Eastern Black Sea Exporters’ Association (DKİB), 531 tons of sea snails were exported from the country in the January-March period of the year. An income of 5 million 559 thousand 24 dollars was obtained from the said exports.
In the same period of last year, 2 million 424 thousand 924 dollars were earned from the export of 425 tons of sea snails.
Sea snail exports from Turkey thus increased by 25 percent in quantity and 129 percent in value compared to the same period last year.
During this period, sea snails were sold to 5 countries, namely the Republic of South Korea, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, Spain and Georgia.
Exports to South Korea increased by 195%
In the said period, 2 million 307 thousand 380 dollars of sea snails were exported to the Republic of South Korea, which was the most exported country, for 194 tons.
Sea snail exports to the Republic of South Korea increased by 37.5 percent in quantity and 195 percent in value compared to the first quarter of 2022, which earned 782 thousand 700 dollars for 141 tons.
The Republic of South Korea was followed by Japan with 1 million 337 thousand 760 dollars, the People’s Republic of China with 1 million 277 thousand 379 dollars, Spain with 633 thousand 31 dollars and Georgia with 3 thousand 474 dollars.
Exports from the Black Sea also increased by 167%.
The Black Sea region carried 3 million 738 thousand 759 dollars of the country’s exports.
In the first quarter of the year, 3 million 738 thousand 759 dollars of sea snails were exported from the Black Sea to South Korea, Japan, People’s Republic of China and Georgia, corresponding to 333 tons.
In the same period of last year, 252 tons of sea snails worth 1 million 399 thousand 643 dollars were exported from the region.
Thus, the export of sea snails from the Black Sea increased by 32 percent in quantity and 167 percent in value compared to the first quarter of last year.
“The sea snail needs to be evaluated in a separate category”
Ahmet Hamdi Gürdoğan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of DKİB, said that the performances of exporters who have succeeded in transforming a product that cannot be consumed in Turkey into value and presenting it to the Far East markets are admirable.
Pointing out that the export of sea snails has gradually risen to higher levels, Gürdoğan said, “Our sea snail exports to the Far East countries vary depending on the product yield. However, the sea snails being evaluated in the same category as fish and included in the scope of the hunting ban prevents our exporters from using this product adequately.” he said.
Gürdoğan argued that for this, sea snails should be evaluated in a separate category by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and a hunting ban should be applied within a period that covers only spawning periods, and said:
“If there is enough product, it is important to make the necessary changes in the legislation in order to reach higher figures in the export of this product, which provides a significant foreign currency input to our country by exporting all of its by-products, including shells and membranes. In this context, we have high expectations from the export of sea snails. We believe that we will reach better numbers.”
