Beyaz Peynir (White Cheese)
Brined white cheese made from cow, sheep, or mixed milk. Creamy, slightly salty, aged 3-6 months in brine.
Turkish Dairy Exporters & Manufacturers Directory 2026
Quick answer
Turkiye ranks among the world top ten milk producers with 23 million tons annual output, supplying a 193-variety cheese culture alongside strained yogurt, ayran, butter, and UHT milk to 140+ markets. Anatolian producers span Ezine PDO white cheese in Canakkale, kashar clusters in Trakya, tulum specialties in Erzincan and Izmir, and industrial dairy parks in Konya and Balikesir. Export lines run ISO 22000, BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000, EU BIO, Halal, and Kosher certifications with cold-chain reefer containers from Mersin, Izmir, and Istanbul ports.
~23M tons
Annual Dairy Output
193+
Cheese Varieties
140+
Export Markets
25+
PDO/PGI Cheeses
Turkish Dairy Industry Overview
Turkiye dairy industry combines centuries-old cheese-making traditions with modern EU-aligned processing. White cheese (beyaz peynir) leads production with 500k+ tons annually, followed by kashar (semi-hard yellow), tulum (traditional cave-aged), and fresh curd cheeses. Strained yogurt (suzme), ayran, kefir, and butter complete the portfolio with rapidly growing functional dairy and lactose-free SKUs for export. Major export markets include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Germany, USA, UK, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Libya with halal and kosher variants available.
Regional terroir defines flagship specialties: Ezine PDO white cheese from Canakkale sheep-cow-goat blends, Kars kashar from Caucasus pastures, Erzincan tulum aged in goatskin, and Izmir tulum in ceramic jars. Industrial clusters in Konya, Balikesir, Izmir, and Trakya operate Tetra Pak, SIG, and Elopak filling lines for UHT milk, ayran, and strained yogurt in retail and HoReCa formats. Modern facilities run ESL (extended shelf life) pasteurization, MAP packaging, nitrogen-flushed vacuum, and reefer-container export with GPS temperature loggers maintaining 2-4 C end-to-end.
Certification ecosystem covers ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, SQF, EU BIO, USDA Organic, Halal (GIMDES TSE OIC SMIIC), Kosher (OU OK Star-K), HACCP, and 25+ PDO/PGI geographical indications. Buyer protections include third-party SGS Bureau Veritas Intertek pre-shipment inspections, aflatoxin M1 testing, antibiotic residue panels, lactose content labeling, and full cold-chain traceability. Payment terms run L/C, CAD, TT with 30-60 day contracts; Incoterms span EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF, and DDP reefer delivery across MENA, EU, and North America.
23M Tons Milk Output
Key operational pillar: 23M Tons Milk Output. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Top 10 global producer with integrated dairy parks
Key operational pillar: Top 10 global producer with integrated dairy parks. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
193 Cheese Varieties
Key operational pillar: 193 Cheese Varieties. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
White, kashar, tulum, fresh curds, aged specialties
Key operational pillar: White, kashar, tulum, fresh curds, aged specialties. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Ezine PDO White Cheese
Key operational pillar: Ezine PDO White Cheese. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Canakkale sheep-cow-goat blend geographical indication
Key operational pillar: Canakkale sheep-cow-goat blend geographical indication. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Halal Kosher Certified
Key operational pillar: Halal Kosher Certified. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
GIMDES, OU, OK, Star-K rennet-free options
Key operational pillar: GIMDES, OU, OK, Star-K rennet-free options. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Cold-Chain Reefer Export
Key operational pillar: Cold-Chain Reefer Export. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
2-4 C temperature-logged to 140+ markets
Key operational pillar: 2-4 C temperature-logged to 140+ markets. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Private Label OEM
Key operational pillar: Private Label OEM. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Tetra Pak, SIG, Elopak UHT ayran yogurt filling
Key operational pillar: Tetra Pak, SIG, Elopak UHT ayran yogurt filling. Documented strength backed by buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.
Turkish Dairy Product Varieties
Cheese, yogurt, butter, UHT milk, and ayran with PDO and specialty formats.
Kashar (Kashkaval)
Semi-hard yellow cheese, pasta filata style. Mild nutty flavor, excellent melting properties for sandwiches and pizza.
Tulum Cheese
Traditional aged cheese matured in goatskin (tulum) or ceramic. Crumbly texture, intense flavor, Erzincan and Izmir PDO.
Strained Yogurt / Labneh
Thick strained yogurt with 10-12% protein. Labneh-style spread, Greek-style tubs, and HoReCa buckets available.
Ayran (Yogurt Drink)
Salted yogurt drink, Turkey national beverage. PET bottles, cups, and HoReCa cans for retail and foodservice export.
Butter (Tereyagi)
Anatolian cultured butter, sweet cream butter, and ghee. 82% fat premium varieties for baking and HoReCa.
UHT Milk
Ultra-high-temperature milk in Tetra Pak and SIG aseptic cartons. Full, semi, skim, lactose-free, and flavored variants.
Specialty & Fresh Cheeses
Mihalic, Izmir tulum, dil peyniri, cerkez, lor (ricotta), Ezine organic BIO, and cream cheese private label OEM.
Dairy Quality Certifications
Turkish dairy producers carry halal, kosher, EU BIO, and food safety certifications for global export.
I2
ISO 22000
Food safety management baseline for all dairy processors
F2
FSSC 22000
GFSI-benchmarked certification for EU export
BFS
BRCGS Food Safety
UK retailer standard for private label dairy
IF
IFS Food
Continental European retailer food safety standard
EBUO
EU BIO / USDA Organic
Organic pasture, feed, and processing certification
HGTO
Halal (GIMDES / TSE OIC SMIIC)
Rennet-free, vegetarian-sourced, halal production
KOOS
Kosher (OU / OK / Star-K)
Chalav Yisrael and standard kosher dairy options
H
HACCP
Hazard analysis critical control points in all facilities
PPG
PDO / PGI Geographical
Ezine, Kars kashar, Erzincan tulum protected origins
Turkish Dairy Wholesale Pricing Guide 2026
Indicative FOB export prices per SKU category; final pricing depends on volume, private label requirements, and certification scope.
White Cheese (Beyaz Peynir)
USD 5.50-9.00 / kg
17kg tins FOB; Ezine PDO premium 9-14/kg
Kashar Cheese
USD 6.50-10.00 / kg
Vacuum blocks; Kars PDO premium 11-15/kg
Strained Yogurt / Labneh
USD 2.20-3.80 / kg
5kg buckets bulk; retail tubs higher
UHT Milk
USD 0.70-1.10 / liter
Tetra Pak 1L FOB; lactose-free premium
Butter (Tereyagi)
USD 6.50-9.50 / kg
82% fat bulk; cultured premium higher
MOQ & Container Loading
1-2 reefer containers minimum, 18-22 tons cheese or 25,000 liters UHT milk. Mixed SKU pallets available for established buyers.
Payment & Incoterms
First orders 30% TT + 70% on B/L copy. Established buyers: L/C 60-day sight or CAD 30 days. Incoterms FOB Mersin / Izmir / Istanbul; DDP EU premium.
Lead Times & Private Label
Stock SKUs 7-15 days; private label OEM 15-30 days including artwork proof and first production. Urgent air freight available for samples and PDO cheese.
Dairy Export Packaging Formats
Retail, HoReCa, and industrial packaging from Tetra Pak aseptic cartons to 17kg cheese tins.
Retail Packaging
- UHT Milk: 200ml, 500ml, 1L, 1.5L Tetra Pak / SIG
- Ayran: 200ml, 300ml PET bottles and cups
- Yogurt & Labneh: 200g, 500g, 1kg plastic tubs
- Cheese: 200g-500g vacuum packs, MAP trays
- Butter: 250g, 500g foil wraps, retail tubs
Bulk / Industrial Packaging
- Cheese tins: 5kg, 10kg, 17kg brined white cheese
- Kashar blocks: 1kg-5kg vacuum packs, 20kg bulk
- HoReCa labneh: 5kg, 10kg food-grade buckets
- Tulum portions: 250g-1kg vacuum, ceramic 2-5kg
- UHT milk bulk: tanker and 20L bag-in-box
Turkish Dairy Production Regions
Seven major dairy clusters from Ezine PDO country to Caucasus alpine pastures.
Ezine (Canakkale)
PDO White Cheese
Trakya (Kirklareli-Edirne)
Kashar & Industrial Dairy
Balikesir
Industrial Dairy Park
Konya
Dairy Industrial Cluster
Erzincan & Izmir
Tulum PDO
Kars (Caucasus)
Kars Kashar PDO
How to Source Turkish Dairy Products
Six-step B2B sourcing framework from category scoping to cold-chain delivery.
- 1
1. Define Category & Format
White cheese tins, kashar blocks, tulum portions, UHT cartons, ayran PET, labneh tubs. Specify target markets and retail vs HoReCa.
- 2
2. Request Samples & COA
Order 2-5kg samples per SKU with certificate of analysis, aflatoxin M1, antibiotic residue, lactose, fat, protein labs.
- 3
3. Audit Cert & Halal/Kosher
Verify ISO 22000 BRCGS IFS FSSC certifications. Confirm GIMDES OIC SMIIC halal or OU OK kosher dairy status.
- 4
4. Lock MOQ & Lead Times
Typical MOQ 1-2 reefer containers (18-22 tons cheese, 25k liters UHT). Lead time 15-30 days for private label runs.
- 5
5. Arrange Cold-Chain Logistics
Reefer containers at 2-4 C with GPS temperature loggers. Mersin, Izmir, Istanbul ports; MENA road reefer option.
- 6
6. Finalize Payment & Incoterms
L/C 60-day sight, CAD 30 days, or TT 30/70. Incoterms FOB Mersin/Izmir for sea; CPT for MENA road; DDP EU premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buyer-focused answers on MOQ, certifications, pricing, and dairy logistics.
How does Turkish white cheese differ from feta?
Turkish beyaz peynir is made from cow, sheep, or mixed milk, brined 3-6 months. Feta is Greek PDO with mandatory sheep-goat milk. Turkish versions offer wider fat range and Ezine PDO premium quality.
Is Turkish dairy halal certified?
Yes, most export producers hold GIMDES, TSE OIC SMIIC, or equivalent halal certification. Rennet is microbial or vegetable-based, suitable for vegetarian and halal markets.
Which shelf life applies to UHT milk and ayran?
UHT milk and ayran in Tetra Pak / SIG aseptic cartons carry 6-9 month ambient shelf life. Cheese varies: fresh 45-60 days refrigerated, aged tulum 12+ months, kashar 4-6 months vacuum packed.
What MOQ for cheese private label OEM?
Typical private label MOQ 1 reefer container (approx 18-22 tons of cheese or 25,000 liters UHT milk). Smaller trial orders 3-5 tons possible for established buyers.
Can you supply Kosher dairy?
Yes, select producers hold OU, OK, or Star-K certification with supervised Chalav Yisrael options available. Contact us for Shomer-supervised production runs.
Is Ezine PDO white cheese available?
Yes, authentic Ezine PDO white cheese from Canakkale is export-ready in 5kg, 10kg, and 17kg tins. PDO status requires specific milk blend and Ida mountain terroir compliance.
Aflatoxin M1 testing included?
All export producers test for aflatoxin M1 per EU regulation 1881/2006 (max 0.05 microg/kg for milk, 0.25 for raw milk cheese). Batch COAs included with shipments.
Lactose-free options?
Yes, lactose-free UHT milk, yogurt, and select cheeses are produced using lactase enzyme hydrolysis. Labeled per EU and FDA standards with <0.1g/100g lactose.
Which packaging formats for export?
Retail: 200ml-1L Tetra Pak, 200g-1kg tubs, 250g-500g vacuum packs. HoReCa: 5kg-17kg tins, 10kg buckets, 1.5L cartons. Bulk: tanker UHT milk, 20kg blocks.
Payment terms typical for dairy?
First orders: 30% TT advance, 70% on B/L copy. Established buyers: L/C at sight 60 days, or CAD 30 days. Letter of credit confirmed by first-tier EU bank preferred.
Do you ship to USA and Canada?
Yes, USDA-approved and CFIA-listed plants export to USA and Canada. FDA prior notice, import alert clearance, and FSMA FSVP compliance handled by suppliers.
MENA road vs sea freight?
Road reefer via Habur-Iraq, Kapikule-EU, or Yayladagi-Syria: 3-7 days transit. Sea: Mersin to Jeddah 4 days, Izmir to Jebel Ali 10 days, Istanbul to MENA 7-14 days.
Organic certified Turkish dairy?
Yes, EU BIO and USDA Organic certified producers operate in Izmir, Canakkale, and Balikesir. Minimum 95% organic feed, no synthetic fertilizers, and ETKO / Ecocert audited.
Private label and co-packing services?
Full private label OEM with your artwork, SKU range, and cert requirements. Minimums 1-2 containers per SKU, artwork approval and first production in 15-30 days.
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Complete your Turkey B2B network with verified supplier directory across all categories and read the FromTurk B2B knowledge hub for dairy market reports, certification guides, and logistics case studies.