Turkey tea prices jump over 45% amid ÇAYKUR cost hikes

Dry tea prices in Turkey have surged dramatically this year. After the Tea Enterprises General Directorate (ÇAYKUR) raised dry‑tea prices by about 15% in early April, the cumulative increase since the start of the year exceeds 45%. Popular 1 kg packages now regularly exceed 300 TL, with some brands reaching 360 TL, putting pressure on household budgets.

The price rise is linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s decision to set the 2026 green‑tea purchase price at 35 TL per kilogram, a roughly 37.6% increase over the previous level. Higher raw‑material costs, along with rising labour, fertilizer and maintenance expenses, have pushed the cost of producing one kilogram of dry tea to between 140 TL and 175 TL.

In parallel, ÇAYKUR announced that the second‑harvest (second batch) green‑tea purchases, which began on 8 July, are proceeding without interruption. The agency urged producers to respect purchase limits and the appointment system to protect product freshness and maintain tea value, emphasizing coordination across its 49 factories from Artvin to Giresun.