Milk market Turkey

Earlier Report Observations

The Turkish milk market volume grew from 22 million tonnes in 2018 to over 23.4 million tonnes in 2020, supported by the development of new product segments like probiotic yogurts and kefir, which boosted domestic consumption. Export opportunities also expanded, with health certificate issues for shipments to the United States resolved in 2018 and a new protocol enabling exports to China signed in 2020, encouraging production. During this period, state-backed reference price mechanisms helped maintain stability for producers.

From 2021, rapidly increasing input costs, particularly for animal feed, squeezed producer margins and led to a reduction in milk output. The market volume fell sharply by 7% in 2022, prompting authorities to impose export restrictions on products like milk powder and butter to secure domestic supply. By 2023, the market stabilized at approximately 21.5 million tonnes as the industry adapted to the sustained high-cost environment.

Production milk Turkey

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Turkey was among the world's top milk producers from 2017 to 2020, ranking 8th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Turkey's milk production grew for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 23 504 thousand tonnes. This represented a 2.4% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 13.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production Turkey in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports milk to Turkey

Exports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Turkey's milk exports declined in 2020, falling to 47 619 tonnes. This marked a 40.9% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 36.1%, with an average annual decline of 13.9%. The peak export volume was recorded in 2019 at 80 580 tonnes, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018 at 5.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Turkey in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Iraq, Libya, and Qatar were Turkey's main markets for milk exports in volume terms, accounting for 21.4%, 20.6%, and 11.9% of exports respectively. Together, these three countries represented 53.9% of Turkey's total milk export flows during this period.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports to Turkey in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Turkey's milk exports in value terms totaled 72.1 million US dollars, showing a sharp year-on-year decline of 37.6%. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 26%, with an average annual decline of 9.6%. The highest export value was recorded in 2019 at 115.5 million US dollars, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 33.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Turkey in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The structure of Turkey's milk exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 reveals a diversified set of trading partners. Iraq, Bangladesh, and Libya were the top destinations, accounting for 23.5%, 12.0%, and 9.6% of export value respectively. However, together they represented only 45.1% of total flows, with the remaining 54.9% distributed among numerous smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports to Turkey in value, 2017-2020

Imports milk in Turkey

Imports in kind, t

Turkey's milk imports in volume terms reached 5 549 tonnes in 2020, representing a 13.7% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 75.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 20.7%. The largest year-on-year decline occurred in 2019 at 6.9%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 66.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports in Turkey in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Turkey sourced milk from many different markets. Even the top three suppliers—Cyprus, Austria, and Iran—together accounted for only 44.6% of total import volume, indicating a relatively fragmented import structure.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports in Turkey in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Turkey's milk imports in value terms amounted to 10.1 million US dollars, up 14.4% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, import value increased by 53.8%, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 15.4%. The peak import value was recorded in 2018 at 10.4 million US dollars, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 57.5%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 14.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports in Turkey in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Cyprus, Austria, and Iran were the leading suppliers of milk to Turkey in value terms, accounting for 28.0%, 24.8%, and 6.9% of imports respectively. Their combined share reached 59.7% of Turkey's total milk import value during this period.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports in Turkey in value, 2017-2020