Turkey Competition Authority launches investigation into hazelnut market

The Turkish Competition Authority has launched an investigation into six major companies operating in the hazelnut buying and selling market due to suspicions of serious competition violations. Birol Küle, President of the Competition Authority, stated that the investigation aims to ensure fair competition and prevent the exploitation of farmers, noting that the sector is a strategic value for Turkey, which accounts for approximately 70 percent of global hazelnut production.

The authority is also closely monitoring Ferrero, the largest buyer in the market. Following a 2023-2024 investigation into allegations of market dominance abuse, Ferrero submitted binding commitments for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons. These include obligations not to purchase shelled hazelnuts below the Turkish Soil Products Office (TMO) intervention reference price and limits on seasonal purchase volumes. The authority warned that any failure to comply with these commitments could result in heavy administrative fines.

Birol Küle emphasized that the hazelnut industry is a social and humanitarian priority, as roughly 400,000 families in the Black Sea region, including Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, and Düzce, depend directly on the crop for their livelihoods. The authority intends to expand the investigation to any additional companies found to be violating competition rules.