Turks export baklava to Greece most
Thursday, February 7, 2008

ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News

Turkey exports it's traditional dessert, baklava, to six continents,
according to figures by the country's exporters' union with
neighboring Greece ranking among the top of the list.

 Baklava exports have increased six-fold in five years, according to
the Turkish Exporters' Union (TIM). The exports valued at $292,471 in
2002 rose to $1.8 million in 2007, increasing 30 percent in 2007
alone. The top 10 countries to which Turkey exports baklava are
Greece, the United States, Russia, Spain, Denmark, Japan, Iraq,
France, Argentina and the Ukraine.

Better promotion would increase baklava exports even more, said the
Baklava and Dessert Producers Association (BAKTAD) Chairman Mehmet
Yıldırım.

"Greece, which claims to be the 'owner' of our baklava, is at the
top of the countries in baklava imports. It means that they accept
baklava as a Turkish dessert. According to TIM figures, we export
baklava to more than 20 countries. Some companies export frozen
baklava and some export dry baklava," he said.

Yıldırım said 445 tones of baklava are produced each day in Turkey,
adding that the sweet pastry is consumed in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir,
Bursa and Gaziantep the most. "Baklava has a $2.5 billion share in the
domestic market," he said.

The Gaziantep Industrial Chamber has officially registered baklava,
stirring "national dessert" debates between Turkey, Greece and Greek
Cyprus, Yıldırım said.