Industry news

Reported: September 2026

Türkiye and China signed a protocol on bay leaf exports in September 2026. Turkish media reported the signing on 10 September, and Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced it in a post on X. The protocol was signed at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry during a visit by a delegation from the General Administration of Customs of China.

Who signed the protocol

DHA reported that Deputy Minister Ahmet Gümen signed for Türkiye and Zhang Geping, head of a supervision and internal audit department at the Chinese customs administration, signed for China. The minister said Türkiye has an annual bay leaf export of about USD 60 million. He named two aims: raising export volume with help from the Chinese market and increasing the added value of Turkish agricultural products.

Earlier steps and background

On 17 July 2026 the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reported that a technical meeting with a Chinese customs delegation took place in Istanbul on 14 July. A draft bay leaf protocol was on the agenda, and the ministry said China was evaluating it so that the signing process could be completed.

Figures reported by Ekonomi Gazetesi in September 2026 add context. Bay leaf exports to China reached USD 15 million at their peak in 2022 and stopped in 2025.

Buyers looking for Turkish bay leaves can request a quote from AgroHoby. More details are on the bay leaves and export and logistics pages.

What this means for bay leaf buyers

The protocol allows bay leaf exports from Türkiye to China, according to the minister’s announcement on 10 September 2026. The deputy minister and a Chinese customs department head signed it.
Exports to China peaked at USD 15 million in 2022 and stopped in 2025, as reported by Ekonomi Gazetesi in September 2026.
The minister put Türkiye’s annual bay leaf export at about USD 60 million. The stated aims are higher export volume and added value for Turkish agricultural products.

Sources

Türkiye ile Çin arasında defne ihracatı protokolü, dha.com.tr

Türkiye’nin defne yaprağı ihracatında Çin pazarı açıldı, paratic.com

Türkiye ile Çin arasında ihracata yönelik teknik toplantı gerçekleştirildi, tarimorman.gov.tr

Çin’e defne yaprağı ihracatının yolu yeniden açıldı, ekonomigazetesi.com

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