Turkey sees steep surge in tea and chicken prices amid raw‑material cost hikes

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture set the 2026 purchase price for fresh tea at 35 TL per kilogram, a roughly 37% increase over the previous year. In response, ÇAYKUR raised dry‑tea prices by about 26.5%, pushing leading brands such as Çaykur Tiryaki to retail between 295 TL and 310 TL per kilogram and Çaykur Filiz to 320‑330 TL per kilogram.

At the same time, chicken wing prices jumped from 190‑220 TL/kg in early spring to 280‑450 TL/kg by June, with other cuts and whole chicken also seeing double‑digit increases. Industry officials, including Nihat Çelik, said the hikes cannot be fully explained by production costs and suggested market opportunism. Ancillary picnic items rose as well, with charcoal prices climbing from around 80 TL to 150 TL per kilogram and folding grills and furniture doubling in cost.

These price spikes are straining household budgets across Turkey, prompting consumers to seek cheaper alternatives or store‑brand products.