Roughly 16,500 tons of dried bay leaf moves through global trade each year, and Turkey supplies 93% of that volume on its own. Morocco, India, Spain and Georgia share the remaining 7%. That level of single-country dominance is unusual in spice trade. This article lays out the source of those numbers, Turkey's regional breakdown, leading export markets, price trends, and KRD & EKAM's 40+ country B2B map.
Geography of World Supply
| Producer | Annual (tons) | Share | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey (Samsun, Sinop, Bartın, Aydın) | ~15,000-18,000 | 93% | Premium; cineole-dominant |
| Morocco | ~500-700 | 3% | Mid; linalool-dominant |
| India (Karnataka, Kerala) | ~200-350 | 2% | Domestic consumption |
| Spain, Georgia, Portugal | ~150-250 | 1.5% | Niche, organic-focused |
| Other (Mexico, Greece, etc.) | ~50-100 | 0.5% | Micro |
Turkey's dominance is not accidental: the only long coastline on earth where Laurus nobilis's optimum growing conditions (humid maritime climate, 50-600 m elevation, mildly acidic soil) all overlap intensively is the Anatolian Black Sea strip.
Regional Breakdown Inside Turkey
- Black Sea corridor (Samsun-Alaçam, Sinop, Bartın):~65-70% of Turkish supply. Highest quality grade.
- Aegean (Aydın, İzmir, Muğla): 20-25%. Processing and export hub; part of raw material comes from the Black Sea.
- Mediterranean (Antalya, Mersin): 5-8%. Older trees, mid-range quality.
- Other (Marmara, Central Anatolia): <2%. Scattered production.
Leading Export Markets (From Turkey, 2023-2025)
| Country | Share | Preferred grade |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | ~19% | HPS 5-10, organic |
| United States | ~14% | FAQ + HPS mix |
| Russian Federation | ~11% | FAQ 4-10, SS Press |
| Netherlands (EU re-export) | ~8% | HPS premium |
| France | ~6% | HPS 4-7 fine |
| Israel | ~5% | FAQ |
| Poland | ~4% | FAQ, SS Press |
| South Korea | ~4% | SS Press, FAQ |
| China | ~3% (fast-rising) | SS Press |
| UK, Canada, Australia, UAE | ~2-3% each | Mixed |
| Other (30+ countries) | ~20% | Mixed |
Price Trends
FOB Turkish bay leaf prices ran at these bands from 2020-2025 (USD/kg, HPS 5-10 standard):
- 2020: 2.80-3.40 (COVID-driven normalisation)
- 2021: 3.20-3.80
- 2022: 3.90-4.60 (freight squeeze + euro strength)
- 2023: 4.20-4.90
- 2024: 3.80-4.50 (supply increase, demand equilibrium)
- Early 2025: 3.90-4.40 (stable)
HPS 4-7 runs 15-25% above these numbers; SA Quality Bale 30-40% above; SS Press 10-15% below. Certified organic earns an extra 25-35% premium.
Note: these are FOB (Free On Board) average market prices. Final contract pricing depends on volume, grade, packaging, payment terms and buyer-specific spec.
Demand Trends
- Rising: Asia-Pacific (China, Korea, Vietnam) — growing middle class + European cuisine adoption.
- Rising: Certified organic — EU demand growing 8-12% per year.
- Stable: North America and Western European traditional food industry.
- Volatile: Russia (post-war payment flows changed routing).
- Declining: —
KRD & EKAM's B2B Map
The KRD & EKAM group has shipped to 40+ countries over the last three years. Main customer segments:
- European premium spice brands (private label)
- North American natural-foods distributors
- Cosmetics-industry buyers of essential oil and hydrosol
- Russian and CIS pickle / canning industry
- Asia-Pacific high-volume food manufacturers
What to Check When Buying from Turkey
- Certification: ISO 22000 is mandatory; BRC or FDA carry a premium.
- Origin: specify the region in the contract ("Samsun-Alaçam" rather than just "Turkey") for quality consistency.
- Packaging: aluminium inner liner is required for 14+ day ocean transit.
- GC-MS report: per-batch GC-MS is the emerging standard; mandatory for premium buyers.
- Payment: LC standard; TT for long-term relationships; 30% deposit typical for first orders.