Hazelnuts: buyers go mad
June 15, 2022 at 12:18 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Speculations dismissed
The market jumped at the fact that the TMO managed to sell the entire 18,000 mt in the last round of sales meaning that its warehouses are now empty. This is, however, not the only surprise. Issue is that most buyers were regular cracking factories, who unlike exporters, do not have to meet existing contracts. Speculations are running wild as to what prompted these crackers to buy from the TMO.
Several guesses are highly improbable. As there no aggressive buyers in the market at present and factories are struggling to sell raw hazelnuts in size 13-15 mm it is unlikely that crackers have to cover existing contracts. A possible supply squeeze can also be dismissed as the season is nearing its end, exports have progressed normally so far and there is no need for additional supplies. Another guess is that manipulators are at work claiming that the crop will be much smaller than anticipated. Growers, however, state that prospects are still very good indeed and that there is no reason to believe the contrary. The most reasonable explanation is that crackers simply expect raw material to rise, especially if the TMO decides to offer growers a high buying price at the start of the season in the run up to the 2023 presidential elections.
Prices vs demand
The paradox is that while the market has jumped at the fact that the TMO succeeded in selling its supplies, demand is frustratingly low. Not only do the market prices for inshells now range at TRY 43-44/kg, raw kernel prices have also climbed to TRY84/kg for size 11-13 mm and to TRY 84-85/kg for size 13-15 mm. Domestic and export demand are, by contrast, remarkably low with suppliers reporting that overseas customers have no intention of buying. The Turkish lira is also far from helpful, especially since president Erdoğan has recently stressed that he has no intention of adhering to common economic sense, which sent the lira tumbling. For international buyers it, in other words, makes more sense to wait for the lira to depreciate further. While the prices for natural kernels have remained firm this week, the prices for preparations such as hazelnut meal have declined in recent weeks.
|
Hazelnuts, Turkey |
||
|
Size, 2021 crop |
EUR/kg |
USD/kg |
|
Natural, 11-13 mm |
5.10 |
5.32 |
|
Natural, 13-15 mm |
5.35 |
5.58 |
|
Organic, natural, 11-13 mm |
5.70 |
5.94 |
|
Organic, natural, 13-15 mm |
5.75 |
5.99 |
|
Diced, 2-4 mm |
4.95 |
5.16 |
|
Meal |
4.85 |
5.06 |
|
Paste |
4.90 |
5.11 |
|
Organic, paste |
5.35 |
5.58 |
|
DAP Central Europe |
||
Similar trend for new crop
Although the prospects for the new crop are highly encouraging, suppliers in Turkey and Italy are voicing similar concerns regarding prices. Many suppliers in fact prefer to wait before issuing offers not only because the hazelnuts have not been harvested yet and drying holds its own challenges for the market but also because of the current economic situation. With the costs for fertilisers and fuel on the rise it is for instance difficult for leading producers in Italy to set sustainable prices for 2022/2023 as local media report.
Inflation and the rising costs of living are also an international problem, which is expected to reduce demand for non-essential goods such as hazelnuts. The depreciation of the Turkish lira generates additional uncertainty in Turkey. Although demand for the new crop is also very much subdued at present, the prices that have been issued in Turkey so far are following a similar track as the prices for the 2021 crop. While the prices for natural kernels have remained firm in recent weeks, the prices for preparations such as hazelnut paste have declined.
|
Hazelnuts, Turkey |
||
|
Size, 2022 crop |
EUR/kg |
USD/kg |
|
Natural, 11-13 mm |
5.50 |
5.73 |
|
Natural, 13-15 mm |
5.55 |
5.79 |
|
Organic, natural, 11-13 mm |
6.20 |
6.46 |
|
Organic, natural, 13-15 mm |
6.25 |
6.52 |
|
Paste |
5.10 |
5.32 |
|
Organic, paste |
5.35 |
5.58 |
|
DAP Central Europe |
||
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- price chart, hazelnut kernels, natural, Turkey
- price charts for edible nuts, dried fruit, oilseeds and more
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