Hazelnut

Hazelnut is a plant belonging to the genus Corylus of the family Betulaceae within the order Fagales. It has a hard shell and its fruit is oily and nutritious. The edible part is not the surrounding shell but the kernel itself. The main economically significant species worldwide include Corylus avellana L. (common hazelnut), Corylus colurna L. (Turkish hazelnut), and Corylus maxima Mill. (Lambert hazelnut).

The hazelnut plant thrives particularly in areas with a Black Sea climate. Among hard-shelled nuts, hazelnut is the second most produced after almond and exhibits selective requirements regarding climate and soil conditions. While cultivation in Eastern Black Sea regions predominantly occurs on steep and sloping terrain, production in Western Black Sea has shifted toward flatter and more productive lands.

Historical Development and Distribution

The earliest traces of hazelnut appear in Chinese sources dating back to 2800 BCE. The plant gradually spread to Central Asia and Europe, becoming established in Greek, Roman and Arab cultures. Its introduction to Anatolia coincided with its commercial expansion during the Ottoman period. Particularly after the 19th century, hazelnut orchards began to be established in Giresun, Ordu and surrounding areas, and production was systematically expanded during the Republican era. Today, hazelnut has become an integral part of Türkiye’s cultural and economic heritage.

Production Areas and Distribution

Türkiye is the clear global leader in hazelnut production, accounting for approximately 70% of world output. Ninety-eight percent of Türkiye’s hazelnut production occurs in the Black Sea Region, with the main producing provinces being Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Samsun, Sakarya and Düzce.

Nationally, hazelnut cultivation covers an area of 700,000 hectares, with over 400,000 producer families directly engaged in this sector. This situation directly and indirectly affects approximately five million people.

In Eastern Black Sea, production mainly takes place on small, family-run and fragmented plots with low productivity. In Western Black Sea, production occurs on larger and more productive lands, resulting in higher agricultural efficiency. In recent years, a trend has emerged toward the westward shift of production.

Türkiye’s Position in the Global Hazelnut Sector

Other major hazelnut-producing countries outside Türkiye include Italy, the United States, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Chile. However, Türkiye leads the world in both production and export. As of 2020, Türkiye accounted for 72% of global hazelnut cultivation area with 734,000 hectares of planted land.

Nevertheless, Türkiye’s share of the global market has declined in recent years from over 75% to around 63%. The primary reason is increased production areas and adoption of more efficient methods by other producing countries.

Export and Economic Value

Türkiye earns approximately two billion dollars annually from an average export of 600,000 tons of hazelnuts. Major importing countries include Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland; Türkiye exports hazelnuts to more than 90 countries worldwide.

Although the proportion of processed hazelnut exports is increasing, approximately 85% of total exports still consist of unprocessed nuts.

Hazelnut is one of Türkiye’s most strategic agricultural export products. Despite this high export share, domestic consumption remains low. Due to limited consumption as a snack, hazelnut is generally regarded as an industrial raw material.

Applications and Industrialization

Hazelnut is widely used in the food industry (especially chocolate, confectionery and baked goods), cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and animal feed. The shells are utilized for biomass energy production and as fuel, while hazelnut oil is preferred in health and cosmetic products. Approximately 156 cracking and processing plants operate in Türkiye, providing significant employment in the sector.

Productivity, Support and Structural Challenges

Average yield in Türkiye is around 90–100 kg per hectare, compared to 225 kg in the United States and 155 kg in Italy. Production in Türkiye remains largely labor-intensive; fragmented landholdings, an aging producer profile and low levels of mechanization negatively affect productivity.

The main form of support for the hazelnut sector is area-based income support. In 2018, direct support amounted to 170 Turkish Lira per hectare. Additional support includes subsidies for diesel and fertilizer. However, these supports have become insufficient in the face of inflation and rising production inputs.

Sectoral Problems and Need for Reform

The hazelnut sector faces structural challenges, including:

• Fragmented land ownership and orchards divided through inheritance,
• Widespread use of traditional production methods,
• Low-quality orchard maintenance and a “disengaged” producer profile,
• Improper planting of hazelnuts on fertile plains due to poor planning,
• Inadequate cooperativization and absence of organized producer models.

These issues reduce Türkiye’s competitiveness both domestically and in international markets. The dominance of multinational companies such as Ferrero in the sector creates pressure on local producers and small businesses.

Future Perspectives and Recommendations

To ensure the sustainability of the sector, the following reforms are necessary:

• Land consolidation and promotion of cooperatives,
• Development of incentive packages targeting young farmers,
• Widespread adoption of modern agricultural techniques,
• Increased export of processed hazelnuts,
• Public awareness campaigns to boost domestic consumption.

Otherwise, Türkiye risks losing its pricing power in the global market and ceding its position to countries with higher productivity.

Hazelnut is one of Türkiye’s most strategic agricultural products in terms of both production and export. To maintain its leading position in global competition, increasing productivity, expanding the use of modern production techniques and resolving structural problems are of critical importance. It is an indispensable product for Türkiye, not only for its economic value but also for its cultural heritage.