2025 Hazelnut crop: A harvest disaster

Turkey has long been the world’s top hazelnut grower. This year’s crop, however, fell flat. Late April frosts hit the Black Sea orchards hard. Many trees did not bloom. Growers in Ordu, Giresun and Trabzon reported losses of 50% to 100%. Overall output is down about 20–30% from last year.

The nuts that did ripen often lack quality. Many are too moist or shriveled. Some kernels are small or dark. Processing buyers such as ourselves say only a fraction meets A‑grade standards. Poor drying and storage have made things worse.

When shipments arrive, suppliers find more bad news. Crack open a batch and you may see mold, rancid oils or hollow shells. These hidden defects force entire loads to be rejected. Several importers now refuse Turkey lots without a full quality check.

Prices have jumped in response. In‑shell hazelnuts climbed by roughly 30% since April. Kernel quotes sit near €10–12 per kilo for a container load of something ordinary. At the farm gate, prices have reached about 400 TL per kilo. Buyers are scrambling for contracts and holding onto stocks.

Some buyers are turning to other countries. Georgia and Azerbaijan together may supply a fifth of Turkey’s usual volume. Italy, Chile and the U.S. can only fill small gaps. Most global buyers still depend on Turkey for the bulk of their needs.

To avoid more losses, insist on moisture tests and mold checks when you take delivery. Ask for random kernel sampling. If you need stable supply, look into smaller origins now. Storage must be cool, dry and pest‑free.

In this tight market, every lot counts. Test early. Store right. And keep your options open.

Sources

• Tridge, “A Bad Year for the World’s Largest Hazelnut Producer,” July 2025

• AgroReview, “Turkey’s Hazelnut Prices Surge 30% Amid Spring Frosts,” July 2025

• FreshPlaza, “Increasing quality problems despite stable volumes for hazelnuts,” June 2025

• Bloomberg, “Nutella Fans Brace to Pay More as Frost Hits Turkish Hazelnut Harvest,” July 4 2025

• Momex.ae, “30% Crop Wiped Out! Black‑Sea Frost Sends Turkish Hazelnuts Sky‑High,” May 2025

• Cardassilaris, “June 2025 Hazelnut Market Report,” June 2025

• FreshPlaza, “Turkey cuts 2025/26 hazelnut forecast to 609,400 tons,” May 2025