Türkiye and China sign seafood export agreements in Shanghai

Türkiye and China have taken another step in strengthening their economic and agricultural partnership with new agreements on seafood exports. The protocols, signed during Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı’s visit to Shanghai, will allow the export of wild and farmed aquatic products from Türkiye to China under mutually agreed health and inspection regulations.

Expanding agricultural cooperation

Minister Yumaklı met with Sun Meijun, head of China’s General Administration of Customs, where both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation in ensuring sustainable food production and trade stability. Yumaklı noted that China’s agricultural exports and imports totaled around $300 billion last year, representing 5% of its $6 trillion foreign trade volume. In comparison, agricultural trade between Türkiye and China stood at $789 million — just 1.6% of their overall trade.

Türkiye eyes larger share in Chinese market

Highlighting Türkiye’s strong position in global food exports, Yumaklı said the country ranks among the top exporters of poultry products and leads in items such as hazelnuts, pistachios, raisins, apricots, and figs. Türkiye, he added, is also preparing to enter the Chinese market with its world-renowned cherries. “I believe that many high-quality Turkish agricultural products will soon reach consumers in China,” the minister said.

Building on presidential dialogue

Chinese Minister Sun Meijun recalled the recent meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Xi Jinping in August, describing it as a key moment that reinforced the two nations’ strategic cooperation. “Our collaboration now extends to customs procedures and agricultural trade,” he noted. The new seafood agreements, he added, reflect a shared goal of developing more balanced and sustainable trade between Türkiye and China.

Expanding access for Turkish products

Ankara also hopes the deal will accelerate approval processes for other Turkish agricultural exports. Yumaklı confirmed that following an inspection visit by a Chinese technical delegation, Türkiye prepared a detailed pest report for citrus exports, aiming to expand its market access.