Sea snails caught in Turkiye are consumed with admiration in the Far East, especially in the Republic of South Korea. In the January-March period of the year, 531 tons of sea snails were exported.
According to the information compiled from the records of the Eastern Black Sea Exporters’ Association (DKIB), 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 was obtained from the said exports.
In the same period of last year, $2 million 424 thousand 924 were earned from the export of 425 tons of sea snails.
Sea snail exports from Turkiye thus increased by 25% in quantity and 129% 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 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% in quantity and 195% in value compared to the first quarter of 2022, which earned $782 thousand 700 for 141 tons.
The Republic of South Korea was followed by Japan with $1 million 337 thousand 760, the People’s Republic of China with $1 million 277 thousand 379, Spain with $633 thousand 31 and Georgia with $3 thousand 474.
Exports from the Black Sea also increased by 167%
The Black Sea region carried $3 million 738 thousand 759 of the country’s exports.
In the first quarter of the year, $3 million 738 thousand 759 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 were exported from the region.
Thus, the export of sea snails from the Black Sea increased by 32% in quantity and 167% in value compared to the first quarter of last year.
“The sea snail needs to be evaluated in a separate category”
Ahmet Hamdi Gurdogan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of DKIB, said that the performances of exporters who have succeeded in transforming a product that cannot be consumed in Turkiye 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, Gurdogan said, “Our sea snail exports to the Far East countries vary depending on the product yield. However, including sea snails in the same category as fish and being included in the scope of a hunting ban prevents our exporters from using this product adequately.”
Gurdogan 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 for the export of this product, which provides a significant foreign currency inflow to our country by exporting all of its by-products, including shell and dice, to reach higher figures. In this context, we have high expectations from the export of sea snails. We believe that we will achieve much better figures.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz