In Turkey, the cat and dog food sector grew 27 times in exports in a 10-year period and reached 122 million dollars in 2023. The sector aims to export 150 million dollars at the end of 2024.
Muhammet Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association, said: “In 2014, Turkey was exporting only 4.5 million dollars in pet food. The exports of the sector gradually increased and reached $ 8 million in 2018. Starting from 2019, the sector started to grow exponentially. Reaching $ 16 million in 2019 and $ 30 million in 2020, exports continued to record strong growth figures every year, reaching $ 122 million in 2023. The exports of the sector have increased 27 times in 10 years.”
Emphasising that the pet food sector is one of the fastest growing sectors of the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector, Öztürk said, “In recent years, pet ownership is a rising value. The pandemic period accelerated this process. The cat and dog food sector is growing rapidly both in the domestic market and in exports thanks to this favourable ground. In the 10-year period, while the exports of our Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds Exporters’ Association increased 3 times from 360 million dollars to 1 billion 68 million dollars, the exports of our cat and dog food sector in the Aegean Region increased from 1 million dollars to 78 million dollars and increased 78 times. While important companies in the sector operate within our Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association, 60 per cent of Turkey’s exports are carried out from the Aegean region. New investors are entering the sector. We foresee that we will reach an export level of 500 million dollars in the 5-year term.”
Malaysia, Israel, Iraq, USA, UK are the countries we export the most
Stating that the cat and dog food sector achieved 38 per cent growth in exports in 2023, President Öztürk said; “Our cat and dog food exports correspond to an increase of 33.5 million dollars compared to 2022. In 2023, we exported to 96 countries. In 78 of 96 countries, we increased our figures significantly compared to last year. In 2023, we exported the most to Malaysia with 15.5 million dollars. Malaysia was followed by Israel, Iraq, USA, UK, Greece, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Georgia and Cyprus. Among our top 10 markets, the country where we increased our exports the most proportionally was Saudi Arabia with an increase of 304 per cent. We exported more than 1 million dollars to 26 countries.”
Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association carries out 60 per cent of Turkey’s cat-dog food exports
Explaining that they expect the sector to continue its growth graph with an increase of 25-30 per cent in 2024, Muhammet Öztürk concluded his words as follows:
“We see it possible to exceed 150 million dollars by the end of 2024. We aim to further consolidate the position of our sector in the markets where breakthroughs are made, to make progress in solving the problems experienced by exporters in the sector and to remove the obstacles in front of our exporters. As the Aegean Grains, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association, utilising the potential of such a vibrant and invested sector is one of our goals for this year. As the Association, which carries out 60 per cent of Turkey-wide cat-dog food exports, we will evaluate with company representatives how we can better promote the cat-dog food sector abroad in 2024, how we can put our companies ahead in international competition, and we will carry out projects and activities in line with the opinions that emerge. Investments are continuing in the Aegean region in the sector, and it may be possible to see the sector increase several times the volume of Turkey in the coming years.”
Öztürk; “We provide free food to shelters”
President Öztürk also informed that they have started a social responsibility project to provide food to animal shelters in the Aegean Region free of charge from the member companies of the Association. Öztürk said, “Within the scope of our social responsibility project, we visited the ‘Şopengazi Nebiha Earthquake Care Centre’ in İzmir Menderes in the first stage. Our next visit and donation was to the Association of Projects for Animals (HIPDER) in Kemalpaşa, Izmir. We delivered the dog food we provided free of charge from the member companies of our Association to the shelter for dogs in need of protection. We provide aid to a shelter every month. We would like to thank Yüksel Paylanbaş, the founder of our member company DFC Pet Company, who contributed to us in terms of food.”
We expect support from official institutions and donors
Funda Bonomo and Melih Kangaloğlu, Founder of the Association of Projects for Animals (HIPDER), emphasised that they need sustainable projects.
“In our association, we care for around 250-300 dogs, most of which are disabled and orphaned. We work devotedly with our volunteers. We also provide veterinary services to sick animals left on the streets. All our animals have a story. We expect support from official institutions and donors.”
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