W31: Hazelnut Update

In W31 in the hazelnut landscape, the Turkish hazelnut harvest season is approaching in Trabzon, Army, and Giresun. Producers are preparing for the harvest, which is set to start in the second week of August along the coastal areas. Despite expectations of a lower harvest compared to 2022, efforts to maintain quality and yield are underway. A price decline is anticipated due to increased supply, while concerns about eroding demand persist. Farmers emphasize the importance of cleaning the underside of hazelnuts for higher yield and better quality. In addition, a member of the Board of the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey has cautioned hazelnut producers against early harvesting ahead of the upcoming hazelnut harvest season – emphasizing that premature harvesting could lead to a loss of yield and quality, impacting both the local economy and the overall industry. The hazelnut harvest dates have been announced by the relevant commission, with the harvest expected to begin later this year due to adverse weather conditions affecting the development of hazelnuts.

Lastly, between Jan-23 and May-23, European Union (EU) countries imported 4.486 thousand tons of peeled hazelnuts from Azerbaijan, a 45.2% year-on-year (YoY) decrease. The total value of these imports was USD 26.21 million (EUR 23.872 million), a decline of 49.8%. Azerbaijan's hazelnut exports during this period included 2.406 thousand tons to Germany, amounting to USD 14.24 million (EUR 12.97 million), and 1.28 thousand tons to Italy, worth USD 7.55 million (EUR 6.88 million). Countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, France, Latvia, Poland, and Slovakia purchased smaller quantities. In 2022, the EU imported 10.061 thousand tons of Azerbaijani hazelnuts, increasing by 42.7% compared to the previous year, with a total value of USD 63.79 million (EUR 58.103 million), up by 44.5%.