Turkish Competition Authority Launches Investigation into Six Major Hazelnut Companies

November 1, 2026 · Bloomberg HT

The Competition Authority has initiated a formal investigation into six major companies in the hazelnut market to prevent artificial price reductions in the Black Sea region.

Competition Authority's Red Line in Hazelnuts

The Competition Authority continues its inspections to ensure fair pricing in the hazelnut market, the primary source of livelihood in the Black Sea Region. The President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, emphasized the strategic importance of the product by reminding that Turkey meets 70% of the world's hazelnut production. Stating that approximately 400,000 families in the region directly depend on hazelnuts for their livelihood, the President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, made the following assessment regarding the sector's importance:

'Approximately 400,000 families, primarily in Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, and Düzce, who tend to their gardens with great difficulty in the rain and mud on the steep slopes of the Black Sea, derive their livelihood directly from this product. For those families, hazelnuts represent bread on the table, school pocket money for their children, and their hope for the year. Therefore, beyond its economic dimension, hazelnuts are our red line with their social and humanitarian aspects.'

Continuous Close Monitoring of Ferrero's Commitments

The conduct of international players, who hold a dominant buyer position in the market, is also kept under the Authority's scrutiny. As a result of the investigation conducted by the Authority in 2023-2024, Ferrero had made binding commitments for the purchase seasons covering 2024, 2025, and 2026. Stating that the process is being meticulously monitored in the field, the President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, warned about the company's actions:

'If we determine that Ferrero is not complying with its commitments or is trying to circumvent them, thereby causing hardship to our farmers, a very heavy administrative fine will be imposed on the company.'

Officials reiterated their determination to protect the producer's rights, stating that they are monitoring every step from the first purchase point in the village to the factory gate.

Penalties Against Local Agreements

Legal sanctions against traders who violate free market rules at the local level of the supply chain are also being applied without slowing down. The Competition Authority has completed two major investigations into intermediary undertakings identified as determining hazelnut purchase and sale prices among themselves within 2024. In these investigations, 21 undertakings in Trabzon and 10 in Düzce, found to have acted contrary to free competition, were imposed administrative fines through the settlement procedure. The President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, expressed his approach to the process with the following words:

'We have immediately launched ex officio investigations into competition problems that develop against our farmers.'

New Investigation into Six Major Undertakings

With the start of the new harvest season, a comprehensive preliminary investigation was conducted in September against allegations of price pressure across the Black Sea. Based on the evidence obtained from the on-site inspections, a formal investigation was launched on October 22 into 6 major companies leading hazelnut trade. The President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, announced the details of the ongoing inspection process with the following words:

'We conducted comprehensive on-site inspections at the main undertakings operating in the region, from the west to the east of the Black Sea. Based on the information and documents we obtained, we launched an investigation on October 22 into 6 major undertakings leading the hazelnut purchase-sale market due to serious suspicions of competition violations.'

Critical Questions Regarding Price Pressure

Within the scope of the latest investigation, agreements that disrupt market dynamics and common interests among buyers are being examined in detail. Officials are investigating whether major buyers are controlling local intermediaries to force producers to sell at low prices. The President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, detailed the scope and objectives of the investigation with the following words:

'In the investigation, we are seeking clear answers to the following questions. First, 'Is there a connection between the market's largest buyer and local and medium-sized buyers in the field aimed at lowering prices?' In other words, are local buyers, under the control and direction of the major buyer, suppressing prices and forcing producers to sell cheaply? Second, 'Are buyers who should be competing with each other in the market colluding to set common prices?' In other words, is our farmer, no matter which door they go to sell their product, faced with the same predetermined low price and left helpless? Our primary expectation from this investigation is to ensure that hazelnut prices are formed through the natural flow of the market, in a fair and free competitive environment, not through agreements made at the negotiating table.'

Determined Stance in Protecting Producer Labor

It has been announced that the necessary legal processes will be carried out uncompromisingly to protect the labor of hazelnut producers and that the market will be continuously monitored. Stating that they will use all their authority to defend the rights of producers in the Black Sea, the President of the Competition Authority, Birol Küle, gave the following determined message:

'Anyone who wants to artificially lower the prices of the hazelnuts they purchase, aims to buy the product cheaper, and is willing to violate competition for this purpose, will find us standing against them. We will conduct the investigation we have launched with this determined will. I openly state that if we identify additional undertakings that harm our farmers or violate competition during our investigations, we will include them in the investigation without hesitation. We will continue to closely monitor the sector and work to the end to ensure that our valued producers receive the reward for their labor.'

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