Turkey: Hazelnut exports reach 33,471 tons in September

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey's hazelnut exports reached 33,471 tons in September, down from 45,706 tons in the same month last year, a regional trade union announced Friday.

The Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters' Union reported Turkey earned $229.25 million from hazelnut exports in the first month of the hazelnut export season, which starts in September and ends in August.

In the same month last season, hazelnut incomes were $293.33 million.

The union's figures said 41% of the country's hazelnut exports were processed products worth $90.5 million, while the rest were raw hazelnuts.

With nearly 77.5% of total exports, the EU continued to be the top market for Turkey's hazelnut exports.

Globally, Turkey is the largest hazelnut exporter.

In the last season, Turkey hit a historical record in hazelnut exports by selling 343,000 tons worth $2.3 billion.