Since its inception, DCT Trading has aimed to be a trustworthy business partner.
History
DCT Trading was founded in 2002 when Levent Sadık Ahmet, then a university student, began trading cotton. Starting international trade from its first year, Levent Sadık Ahmet rapidly increased the tonnage of cotton traded over the years. In 2007, he established DCT Trading, transitioning his business into a corporate structure.
In its early years, DCT Trading sourced bale cotton primarily from Greece and other international sources, supplying Turkish yarn producers and textile manufacturers. Over time, this activity expanded to include product sourcing from countries such as Brazil, the United States, Turkic Republics, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia. The company also began purchasing cotton produced in Turkey and acquired the status of an exporter. Currently, DCT Trading handles the logistics to transport Turkish-produced cotton to various countries including China, Pakistan, and Indonesia, among others.
Over the years, DCT Trading has diversified its activities to include various agricultural commodities. It sources commodities such as wheat, rice, and corn from different countries around the world and connects them with buyers in the market.
DCT Trading has evolved into a global player that is a member of the International Cotton Association (ICA) and Better Cotton (BC). Additionally, it undergoes audits by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Control Union, enabling it to engage in organic cotton trading as well.
By 2015, Levent Sadık Ahmet took a significant initiative by deciding to invest in his ancestral land of Western Thrace. This decision aimed not only for commercial reasons but also to contribute to the local community, fulfilling the responsibility of the inherited legacy. Considering that the local population primarily engages in agriculture, a special investment was planned for a cherry processing facility. Thus, in 2015, YAKA IKE (where "Yaka" also denotes the northern region of Greece) was established, laying the foundation for a world-class cherry processing plant. The facility, operational since 2017, successfully passed quality control processes and obtained certifications compliant with EU food standards. This enabled the integration of producers into certified agricultural systems and facilitated the processing and export of cherries produced in the region to major chain stores in Europe.
In 2021, BLUEFARM IKE was established, marking a transition to the role of producer. Spanning over 200 acres of land, Bluefarm has become the largest producer of blueberries in Greece and neighboring countries.
YAKA and BLUEFARM, operating under affiliate partnership status, not only engage in their own production and trade activities but also conduct knowledge and experience-sharing initiatives on modern agricultural techniques and technological farming models with Western Thrace Turks involved in agriculture in the region.
Mission
DCT Trading operates as a bridge in the global arena of soil-based commodities, fulfilling the needs of producers and consumers alike. Beyond our borders, we share our expertise in trade and production with our partners, aiming to enhance productivity in production and establish a trustworthy environment in trade. This includes integrating modern financial models, risk management, digitalization, and sustainability perspectives. Our mission extends beyond creating economic value to enriching the lives of our communities, employees, and all stakeholders.
Vision
Since its inception, DCT Trading has aimed to be the preferred and trusted business partner in agricultural commodity trading for suppliers and buyers alike. With a vision to contribute to our country's development and add value to our growing economy, we have established ourselves as a leading company in global agricultural commodity trading through developed relationships. Going beyond physical product supply, we have integrated into risk management (hedging) processes on globally structured commodity exchanges, thereby creating additional value for our stakeholders. This vision has also led us to become recognized members of global organizations in the product groups we trade. Aware of increasing world population, changing climate conditions, and the need for increased productivity and sustainability in agricultural production, DCT Trading has not limited its activities to merely trading agricultural commodities. We have also embraced the role of producer by adopting the most modern techniques. Our expert team actively shares field experience to enhance agricultural productivity and implement modern agricultural technologies.