Hazelnut exports from Turkey to Europe decreased by 35% as citizens in the bloc tighten their belts due to higher energy prices. As EU citizens buy less chocolate, the hazelnut imports used mainly for chocolate-making in Europe drop too.
This does not bode well for Turkey, as the world's top producer of hazelnuts with 90% of these exports being sent to the EU. Turkish producers describe it as the worst situation they have ever faced. The EU reduction comes as Turkish production of hazelnuts are set to increase by 12% to 765 287 tons this 2022-23 season.