The General Directorate of Tea Enterprises (ÇAYKUR) is the largest public organization operating in Türkiye’s tea sector. It is a State Economic Enterprise (SEE) with a legal personality, fully state-owned, operating under Decree Law No. 233, and administratively autonomous in its activities. Initially established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, it was transferred to the Türkiye Wealth Fund under Cabinet Decree No. 2017/9756.
General Directorate of ÇAYKUR (ÇAYKUR)
Organizational Structure
ÇAYKUR is a large-scale public enterprise managing tea cultivation and processing in Türkiye through its central and regional organizations. Its organizational structure is designed to integrate production, marketing, research, and technical maintenance under a comprehensive framework.
Fresh Tea Processing Factories:
ÇAYKUR operates a total of 49 fresh tea processing factories, strategically located across the Eastern Black Sea Region. These facilities process harvested tea leaves through preliminary treatment and drying to produce dried tea. Some factories are equipped with modern automation systems and play a crucial role in seasonal tea procurement from local farmers.
Production and Marketing Regional Directorates (2 units):
These directorates oversee the logistics, quality control, packaging, and domestic sales of dried tea products derived from fresh leaves.
Marketing Regional Directorates (7 units):
Seven regional directorates located in various provinces across Türkiye are responsible for national distribution and marketing strategies. They manage dealerships and convey market insights to the central organization, helping ÇAYKUR maintain its 50–55% market share in dried tea.
Anatamir Factory:
This facility is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and spare parts manufacturing of mechanical and electronic systems used in tea processing factories. It also supports the local development and modernization of technical equipment.
Research Institute:
The Atatürk Tea and Horticultural Research Institute conducts scientific studies focused on tea cultivation and horticulture. The institute develops disease-resistant, high-yield varieties, determines optimal agricultural practices based on soil and climate, and promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly farming techniques.
Human Resources:
ÇAYKUR employs 11,931 personnel across factories, directorates, research institutes, and administrative units. Staff includes engineers, technicians, agricultural experts, marketing professionals, and administrative workers. The organization serves as a major source of employment and socio-economic stability in the Eastern Black Sea Region.
Processing Capacity:
ÇAYKUR’s daily processing capacity for fresh tea leaves is registered at 9,250 tons, the highest in Türkiye's tea industry. This volume allows the institution to meet domestic demand and generate export potential.
Kendirli ÇAYKUR Tea Factory (ÇAYKUR)
Market Presence
ÇAYKUR is the dominant actor in Türkiye’s tea industry in terms of both production and marketing capacity. It purchases approximately 55% to 60% of the fresh tea produced annually in the Eastern Black Sea Region. This dominant role provides price stability and market assurance to local farmers. The procurement prices are publicly announced each season, usually guided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The company holds a 50–55% share in the domestic dried tea market and sells products under various brands such as Tiryaki, Rize Turist, Altınbaş, and Organik Hemşin, catering to both traditional and modern consumer preferences. Strong branding, product diversity, and nationwide distribution make ÇAYKUR a trusted name in tea across Türkiye.
ÇAYKUR’s influence extends to pricing strategy. Its annual purchase price for fresh tea directly influences the price policies of private sector players, establishing ÇAYKUR as a "price leader" and a tool of social policy within a free-market structure. This helps protect the income of small-scale farmers and ensures market stability.
Although its operations are mostly focused on the domestic market, ÇAYKUR also exports tea, primarily to European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian markets. However, the share of exports remains relatively limited compared to total national tea production.
Mission and Duties
ÇAYKUR’s main charter was published in the Official Gazette No. 22853 on December 20, 1996. Article 4 outlines its key objectives and fields of activity:
- To promote tea cultivation in line with Türkiye’s agricultural policy.
- To contribute to capital formation based on economic necessity, profitability, and efficiency.
- To produce, market, import, and export all types of tea products.
- To enhance competitiveness under free market conditions.
- To conduct related side activities in tea and associated products.
Historical Background and Institutionalization
Tea cultivation in Türkiye was first proposed in 1917, inspired by ecological similarities to Batumi. Legal authorization came with Law No. 407 in 1924, allowing tea farming in Rize and Borçka, with Zihni Derin, an agricultural inspector, leading the initiative.
The first harvest occurred in 1938, and in 1940, Law No. 3788 regulated the sector, introducing mandatory licensing for tea plantations and establishing a controlled system for tea agriculture. State-led production and processing activities expanded and institutionalized in the following decades.
Economic and Social Impact
ÇAYKUR plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of Türkiye’s Eastern Black Sea Region. By supporting tea farming, the company fosters rural development, strengthens local labor markets, and stimulates agri-based industrial growth. In mountainous and fragmented terrains where economic activity is limited, tea farming serves as a vital livelihood.
Through guaranteed tea purchases, ÇAYKUR ensures stable income for small producers, encouraging rural sustainability and reducing internal migration. With approximately 12,000 direct employees and many more involved in related services like transportation, packaging, and maintenance, ÇAYKUR supports regional economic vitality. Its facilities also boost the development of local industries based on tea agriculture.
In this regard, ÇAYKUR is not merely a producer and marketer but a strategic public actor in ensuring socio-economic stability and implementing sustainable rural development in the Eastern Black Sea region.
