Consumers have already felt the impact of rising cocoa prices on chocolate, and now another key ingredient—hazelnuts—is facing price increases due to adverse weather in Turkey, the world’s largest producer.
Turkey accounts for up to 75% of global hazelnut production. However, a severe frost has significantly reduced this year’s harvest, leading to a 30% price increase since April. Bloomberg reports that prices are expected to continue climbing, which could affect consumer costs worldwide, given hazelnuts’ wide use in confectionery products.
Hazelnut production in Serbia
In Serbia, hazelnut cultivation spans 8,718 hectares, yielding around 8,910 tons in 2024, according to official statistics. The wholesale price ranges between 900 and 1,300 Serbian dinars per kilogram.
Five years ago, Serbia had roughly half the current planting area (4,479 hectares) and produced 4,949 tons of hazelnuts. Yields per hectare have remained fairly stable, peaking at 1.4 tons per hectare in 2020 and dropping to 1 ton per hectare in 2023.
Global and regional context
Serbia is among the top hazelnut producers globally, ranking 11th with 9,328 tons in 2022 (FAO data). In Europe, Serbia ranks fourth after Italy (98,670 tons), France (9,960 tons), and Poland (9,500 tons).
Leading producers by yield per hectare include Greece and the U.S. at 2.6 tons/ha, followed by China at 2.1 tons/ha. Serbia’s yield stands at 1.3 tons/ha, placing it 10th globally and 4th in Europe.
Hazelnut cultivation in Serbia
In Serbia, hazelnuts and walnuts are the most widely grown nuts, though they make up just 7.37% of the country’s total orchard area. Most hazelnut plantations are in Vojvodina, with Sombor municipality leading at 916 hectares, followed by Šid, Mali Iđoš, Šabac, and Kikinda.
The recent Turkish frost and resulting price increases highlight vulnerabilities in global hazelnut supply, with potential ripple effects on prices for consumers worldwide.
