Pointing out that the export season, which started on September 1, was 3 months behind, Dursun Oğuz Gürsoy stated that 95,878 tons of hazelnuts were exported in the said period, providing a foreign exchange inflow of 538 million 695 thousand 343 dollars. Expressing that there is an increase in exports to Germany, France, Russia, Libya and Slovakia, Gürsoy said that there is a slight decrease in exports to Italy, China, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Canada and Brazil, and that the economic developments in these countries noted that it contributed to the decline. Expressing that they predict that exports will accelerate especially after the New Year, Gürsoy said, “There are serious hazelnut buyers in countries such as Italy, China and Poland. Exports to these countries may accelerate in the new year. We expect demand to increase further in January and February. Exports will accelerate in the second period of the season,” he said. Pointing out that Turkish hazelnuts now occupy a certain place in exports, Gürsoy underlined that Turkey is now able to sell 300 thousand tons of hazelnuts very easily, and that this figure can be exceeded in some years, which is a very important success of the country and the hazelnut exporter.
Dursun Oğuz Gürsoy stated that hazelnut is produced on an area of 725 thousand hectares between the Georgian border and Istanbul, and said that this product is of great importance especially in the economy of the Black Sea Region. Drawing attention to the fact that hazelnut exports are made to 120 countries from Turkey, Gürsoy stated that natural and roasted hazelnut kernels constitute a significant part of this export, while a part of it is processed puree (roasted hazelnut kernels are crushed and pureed), minced meat and shelled hazelnuts. Pointing out that the efforts to further increase the export of Turkish hazelnuts continue, Gürsoy noted: “Promotional activities continue to increase the export figures in alternative markets, apart from traditional markets. Friends participate in fairs in these countries,” he said.
“We are big enough to export 600 thousand tons of in-shell hazelnuts”
Dursun Oğuz Gürsoy, Vice Chairman of the Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters’ Association, said that with the increase in export figures in alternative markets, better points will be achieved both in terms of quantity and foreign currency, and that the energy crisis in Europe is also effective in hazelnut prices in Turkey. Stating that the expected export activity could not be achieved when hazelnut, one of Turkey’s important export items, was taken into the luxury consumption class by Europe, Gürsoy said, “We think that hazelnut prices will be better after the New Year. Turkey’s hazelnut industry is now large enough to export 600 thousand tons of in-shell hazelnuts, no matter how difficult there are.
GIRESUN