The hazelnut market in Italy

The hazelnut (scientific name: corylus avellana) is an oily seed belonging to the nut family. Native to Asia Minor, where Turkey, which is by far the world's leading producer, is located, the hazelnut is used mainly in gastronomy, and more specifically in spreads.

There are 15 varieties of hazelnuts in Italy, and many of these are PDO and PGI labeled.

Some of these are:

-The tonda gentile romana

-The tonda di Giffoni

-The tonda gentile from Langhe

Globally, a significant growth in the hazelnut market could be observed starting in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.10% between 2023 and 2028.

Global hazelnut production is estimated to have reached over 5 million tons in recent years, with a slight decrease of 6% in the period between the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022.

In Italy, the hazelnut market is considered one of the sectors of excellence, and for this reason, significant growth in its value and volumes can be observed.

In our country, hazelnuts are harvested from August to the end of October and are then sold all over the world. Globally, Italian hazelnuts have achieved the record of most sold, counting thousands and thousands of tons per year second only to Turkish hazelnuts. In Europe, Italy is the leading exporter. In addition, it is important to mention that Italy boasts more than 90 thousand hectares of land where hazelnuts are grown, which are divided between Piedmont, Lazio, Campania and Sicily.

The main drivers of the success of this market are definitely the quality of the Italian product, the territorial vocation and the presence of numerous confectionery companies integrated with the agricultural stage.

The ever-growing popularity of hazelnuts among consumers in Italy is also due to their health properties: it is well known that consuming nuts reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Another important aspect that characterizes Italian production is the cultivation techniques that are both innovative and sustainable.