Hazelnuts: Exporters threatened by trigger-happy farmers?
November 16, 2016 at 2:30 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Two exporters are to have allegedly been threatened with firearms and told to increase prices, since they were responsible for the low price level.
Losing deals
The season is developing differently than what a good many market participants had hoped for. Several Turkish traders had speculated and sold even before start of the season at relatively low prices. This price level has not been reached yet in spite of the last week’s decreases, which resulted in losing deals. To some part, the lower prices were the result of the exchange rate but that could develop in most any direction in light of the current political situation in Turkey.
Pressure equalisation
The market is being put under pressure by unexpectedly high carry-overs from crop 2015, which is slowly pulling down prices also for the 2016 merchandise. The quality of the merchandise out of older crop is deteriorating continually, there are already reports of lots with up to 10% spoilt kernels. Traders are counting on continuingly falling prices until end of the year. Demand is getting ever better and exports are satisfactory. There were again 7,400 mt of hazelnuts shipped abroad, since start of the season exports are at a total of 53,500 mt.
Turkish hazelnut kernels |
|
product |
EUR/kg |
natural, 11-13 mm |
7.30 |
diced, 2-4 mm |
7.80 |
meal, 0-2 mm |
7.50 |
hazelnut paste |
7.00 |
DDP Germany |
Competition
Last, but not least, a peek beyond one’s own nose: Georgia indeed has attractive prices but the quality of this year’s harvest is not ideal. Italian hazelnuts, however, are to be had for absolutely interesting prices. Quite differently than merchandise from Azerbaijan, which is currently even more expensive than Turkish hazelnuts because of the good quality.