The hazelnut market is not calm. The price of hazelnuts, in which Türkiye has an important say in the world with its production rate of over 65 percent, is at a low value compared to all the intervention purchases of the state. The Competition Authority also took action to examine the price pressure on hazelnuts, which dropped to 160 lira per kilo in the free market. In this context, the activities of Ferrero, which holds the majority of the market, as well as Atalay, Balsu, Karaçuha, Ofi, Özyılmaz and Şenocak companies were examined. The institution's investigation into whether prices in the hazelnut market are determined together has been expanded.
The inspector was in the field
Claims from manufacturers and unions show that there is a 'guidance' towards prices. Ordu Altınordu Chamber of Agriculture President Atakan Akça said, "Ferrero, which controls a significant part of the market, keeps the price at a certain level with the intermediary companies it trades with. We know from the field that it indirectly gets this done through intermediary companies. With the intense efforts of the producers and us, although this problem has been going on for a long time, it has now found a response and as a result of the investigations, it will be seen that the claims are proven."
The basis of the investigation dates back to approximately 2 months. According to the information obtained from the producers, an inspector was sent to the field before the Competition Authority and the situation was determined on-site. Purchasing prices, the free market and the transactions of large buyers in different producer provinces were examined. Following notifications regarding this, the Competition Authority also took action. In hazelnuts this season, Türkiye achieved a good production increase of nearly 700 thousand tons. Although low production continued in some regions due to the effects of pests, general conditions showed good production.
Despite TMO intervention
Before the hazelnut harvest, Soil Products Office (TMO) announced a purchase price of 255 lira for the best quality hazelnuts. Here, TMO demanded all the excess product of the manufacturer and took around 250 thousand tons of product to its warehouses. Atakan Akça said that even in this case, the prices could not find their place in the free market. Akça said, "TMO supported the producer by purchasing perhaps the most products in its history. While the state wanted to keep the price in favor of the producer with this intervention, the company controlling this market prevented the prices from rising. Even though the price was 190 lira, it dropped to 170 lira after the news of the investigation was heard. Even the fact that this happened in response to the public power shows that there is a direction and suppression. While the cost of hazelnuts in Ordu is calculated as 227 lira, these prices cannot be for the producer who suffers all the suffering of production."
Their commitments are also being examined
The Competition Authority opened an investigation against Ferrero, the manufacturer of the Nutella brand, in 2024; Here, the process was terminated as a result of the commitments made by the company to the institution. Within the scope of these commitments, the company agreed not to fall below TMO's reference price in hazelnut purchases. Ferrero also assumed the obligation to purchase at least 45 thousand tons of hazelnuts in the September-December period, when producers' cash needs intensified. In another leg of the new investigation, the Competition Authority will evaluate whether the company fulfills these obligations.
