Turkey, the world's largest hazelnut producer and exporter, has generated an export revenue of over 18 billion US dollars over the last 10 seasons. While the highest revenue was generated in the 2014-2015 season with 2 billion 799 million USD (699,6 million Euro), the highest volume of hazelnut export was achieved in 2012-2013, with 301 thousand 193 tons.
According to the data provided by the Black Sea Hazelnut & Products Exporters' Union (KFMIB), Turkey holds the world's biggest share of hazelnut production and export.
Turkey, for the last 10 season from 2008-2009 to 2017-2018, exported 2 million 532 thousand 789 tons of hazelnuts and earned a total revenue of 18 billion 636 million 90 thousand 804 USD (around 16,3 billion Euro).
During this period, the years 2014-2015 marked the most profitable season. The export of 217 thousand 427 tons of hazelnuts provided a total revenue of 2 billion 799 million 529 thousand 618 USD (around 2,45 billion Euro).
The season of 2015-2016 also pleased the producers in terms of exports revenue. In exchange of 249 thousand 681 tons of hazelnuts, a total of 2 billion 280 million 112 thousand 657 USD (approximately 2 billion Euro) have been received.
The 2012-2013 season turned out to be the most successful in terms of the volume of export with 301 thousand 193 tons, by surpassing the goal of "300 thousand tons", and a total of 1 billion 750 million 439 thousand 804 USD (around 1,5 billion Euro) have been made.
2010-2011 was the season that came closest to the export goal of "300 thousand". In this season, in exchange for 1 billion 783 million 567 thousand 588 USD (around 1,55 billion Euro), 281 thousand 330 tons of hazelnuts were exported.
"Export is around 220 to 250 thousand tons"
Ilyas Edip Sevinc, head of the Black Sea Hazelnut & Products Exporters' Union (KFMIB) said that the export volumes have fluctuated over the last 10 years. Emphasizing that Turkey's hazelnut exports have been 220 to 250 tons per year since 2000, Sevinc said: "The numbers usually remain the same. It wouldn't be realistic to expect otherwise. Only in the 2012-2013 season, there was a record export of over 300 thousand tons but this regressed to 200 thousand tons again in the following seasons."
Sevinc added that in the 2018-2019 season, the estimated volume of export will be around 250 to 260 thousand tons.
The aim is to exceed 300 thousand tons
Pointing out to the need for increased productivity in order to reach the country's 2023 export goals, Sevinc said:"We need to lower the production cost by increasing the productivity. We also need to increase the global consumption of Turkish hazelnuts."
Sevinc declared his intention of increasing the export and said: "Our goal is to exceed 300 thousand tons every year."
Source: Bloomberg