Year-End Figures in Turkey Meat Production Near Last Year

Naci Kaplan, President of the Association of Poultry Industrialists and Breeders (BESD-BİR), stated that the year-end figures in the production of turkey meat would be close to the previous year in his evaluation of the production and foreign trade.

Naci Kaplan, President of the Association of Poultry Industrialists and Breeders (BESD-BİR), emphasized that a total of 59,640 tons of turkey meat were produced in the country last year and 13,373 tons of it were exported, and stated that according to the poultry meat statistics recently announced by TUIK (Turkish Statistical Institute), the production amount of turkey meat in the first 10 months of 2020 was 48,955 tons in total and they expected the year-end figures to be close to 2019.

According to the Exporters' Association data, turkey meat exports in the first 11 months of 2020 amounted to 8,023 tons, and BESD-BİR President Naci Kaplan said:

"When we look at these figures, a 28.2 percent decrease is observed compared to the 11,180 tons of exports in the same period of the previous year. Demand for turkey meat in our country has been increasing in recent years, despite not being at the desired level. It can be said that the decrease in turkey exports is due to Covid-19, which affects world consumption demand and therefore foreign trade. Imports of turkey meat are in question and too low to be taken into account in very special products that can be called 'gourmet'. "

"Turkey meat is one of the sources of protein with low fat and cholesterol levels in nutrition, just like chicken meat," Naci Kaplan said, noting that the interest in healthy and correct nutrition is increasing day by day in the world.

Informing that the consumption of turkey meat per capita in Turkey is approximately 560 grams per year, Kaplan said that the consumption in European Union countries is around 6-7 kilograms.

Pointing out that it is important to consume turkey meat, which is a healthy alternative, not only in seasonal times such as Christmas, but also on other days of the year, Kaplan said, "Our aim is to increase the consumption of turkey meat with production by transforming turkey meat into a continuous process. BESD-BİR Association attaches importance to educating and guiding the consumer in order to reach the targeted production, consumption and export figures, and we are working to explain that turkey meat is a healthy option with low fat and as nutritious and high protein value as chicken meat. "