Hazelnuts, which have become too expensive, at the heart of a battle between Turkey and Ferrero, the Nutella producer

The precious nut, of which Turkey is the world’s leading supplier, is necessary for the production of Nutella, but its production has fallen, leading to a rise in prices that Ferrero refuses to pay.

The nuts of discord. A standoff opposes two giants, the Italian group Ferrero, which markets Nutella and absorbs a quarter of the world’s hazelnut production, and the world’s leading producer, Turkey. After a succession of calamities, Turkish production is in free fall, from 700,000 to 450,000 or even 300,000 tonnes, in 2025. Traders have almost doubled their prices. While Ferrero does not intend to give in and has removed the country from its orders, the Turkish competition authority is protesting and producers are waiting.

Bari’s family, which has always produced hazelnuts in the Bafra region in the Black Sea, in northern Turkey, is plunged into a war that is beyond its control. As if the hail and then a devastating bug, which caused its production to drop by a third, were not enough, here it is being strangled by the traders. “The wholesalers offer very low prices, at 300 or 320 (Turkish) pounds per kilo (between 6 and 6.5 euros per kilo). People in need sell at this price, at least to repay the cost of labor, fertilizer and pay their debts. The others wait for prices to rise and store the hazelnuts in their warehouses. Explain to Bari.

Between June and September, the price per tonne rose from $9,000 to $18,000, more than double what is paid to the producer. “Every year, it’s the same circus. The State does not buy the hazelnuts and directs us to wholesalers who buy at very low prices, then resell to multinationals at very high prices. laments the producer.

“We must eliminate the intermediaries, they are vampires.”

Bari, producer of Turkish hazelnuts

at franceinfo

Ferrero is waiting for traders to come to their senses and is freezing its purchases. The group draws on its reserves and turns to Chile or the United States. But Bari wants to believe that everything will return to normal: “There are other companies that are interested in our hazelnuts. There is definitely one that will buy them.” India, for example, is interested. And, above all, Turkish hazelnuts have a particular quality, assures the Black Sea producer, fatter than the others, they are very appreciated in confectionery.