Chestnuts: EU imports are declining
February 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Aydin as the most important growing region
According to the latest data from Plant Production Statistics, a total of 74,300 mt of chestnuts were harvested in Turkey in 2024, an increase of 4.4% compared to 2023. The most important growing region is the province of Aydin, where 32% of the total quantity was harvested at 23,000 mt. Chestnuts are the source of income for over 5,000 growers here. The harvest was completed in January, and now the factories where the product is packaged and prepared for the domestic and foreign markets are continuing to work intensively.
İbrahim Altıntaş, Director of Agriculture and Forestry of the province of Aydin, emphasises the importance of chestnut cultivation in his latest statement. In addition to Aydin, chestnuts are also grown in the eastern Black Sea region, Antalya, the Marmara region and western Anatolia. In Aydin, the acreage is around 7,900 hectares with around 900,000 trees; this corresponds to around 57% of Turkey's total acreage. 26% of Aydin's acreage is cultivated organically, emphasises Altıntaş. The chestnuts are also exported to numerous countries, with Italy, Spain and Lebanon among the most important buyers.
Sharp drop in EU import value
The EU imported a good 12% fewer chestnuts in 2024 than in the previous year. Turkey is the third most important supplier, whereas it was still the frontrunner in 2023; however, Turkey supplied a good 42% fewer chestnuts to the EU in 2024 than in 2023. Chile and China now occupy first and second place among the most important EU suppliers, increasing their shipments by 6.6% and 12.9% respectively. The EU countries imported a total of 12,332 mt of chestnuts last year. The import value fell even more sharply than the volume compared to 2023: while it was still over EUR 38 million in 2023, it was just over EUR 29 million in 2024. The most important buyer countries were Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
|
EU chestnut imports, in mt |
|||
|
Supplier |
2023 |
2024 |
Diff. |
|
Chile |
3,766 |
4,016 |
6.6% |
|
China |
3,381 |
3,816 |
12.9% |
|
Turkey |
5,258 |
3,039 |
-42.2% |
|
Albania |
1,182 |
808 |
-31.6% |
|
North Macedonia |
325 |
422 |
29.8% |
|
Others |
154 |
231 |
50.0% |
|
Total |
14,066 |
12,332 |
-12.3% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, Jan-Dec 08024200+08024100 Fresh or dried chestnuts "Castanea spp.", shelled+ in-shell |
|||
View more
- price charts
View related articles
