31.10.2026 15:40
The Competition Authority opened an investigation on October 22 into the six leading undertakings in the hazelnut purchase and sale market on suspicion of a “serious competition violation.” Birol Küle, Head of the Authority, said that the investigation was examining whether there was a connection between the large buyer and local buyers aimed at lowering prices and whether the buyers were setting prices jointly. Küle stated that other undertakings involved in the violation would also be included in the investigation.
The Competition Authority decided to open an investigation following the preliminary investigation it launched across the sector with the start of the hazelnut season in September. Evaluating the work concerning the hazelnut market, Küle stated that the sector was under the Authority’s close supervision.
“HAZELNUTS ARE OUR RED LINE”
Pointing out that hazelnuts carry strategic value for Türkiye’s domestic and foreign trade, Küle recalled that Türkiye accounts for 70 percent of world hazelnut production. Küle said, “In the steep slopes of the Black Sea, especially in Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon and Düzce, around 400,000 families who tend their orchards with great difficulty in rain and mud make their living directly from this product. Hazelnuts mean the bread on those families’ tables, their children’s school pocket money and a year’s hope. Therefore, beyond its economic dimension, hazelnuts are our red line with their social and human dimension as well.”
Stating that as an institution they have always approached the hazelnut sector with great sensitivity, Küle emphasized that they are constantly in the field to protect fair and effective competition in the market. Küle said that they do not only wait for complaints, that they initiate ex officio sector reviews to protect producers’ rights, and that they keep the market under constant supervision through tools such as commitment compliance processes.
THE FERRERO EXAMPLE IN MONITORING COMPANIES’ COMMITMENTS
Küle stated that one of the most critical steps they took to prevent producers from being victimized was the investigation they conducted in 2023-2024 into the allegation that Ferrero, the largest buyer in the hazelnut purchasing market, abused this power. Küle noted the following:
“In this investigation, we examined Ferrero’s market conduct down to the finest detail. During the investigation, Ferrero, which was considered to hold a dominant position in the market, submitted a commitment application. As the Competition Board, we concluded that these commitments would address the existing competitive concerns in the market.”
“VERY HEAVY ADMINISTRATIVE FINES WILL BE ON THE AGENDA”
Recalling that the commitments the company submitted for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 hazelnut purchasing seasons were accepted and made binding for Ferrero, Küle said:
“From that day to this, we have been monitoring Ferrero’s every step and whether it complies with the commitments at every moment. I would like to underline once again, so that our producers can rest assured. If we determine that Ferrero does not comply with the commitments or victimizes our farmers by trying to circumvent them, very heavy administrative fines will be on the agenda for the company.”
“WE HAVE INITIATED EX OFFICIO INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST COMPETITION PROBLEMS DEVELOPING TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR FARMERS”
Stating that they aim to protect the labor of hazelnut producers at every link of the supply chain, Küle reported that after the Ferrero decision, they continued to monitor the sector in all production basins from Ordu to Giresun and from Düzce to Trabzon, from village purchases to the factory. Küle, noting that they evaluate all stages of the supply chain at regional and local scales, said, “We have immediately initiated ex officio investigations against competition problems developing to the detriment of our farmers.”
31 UNDERTAKINGS FINED IN TRABZON AND DÜZCE
Küle recalled that they conducted two separate investigations into the allegation that undertakings agreed among themselves in 2024 to set hazelnut purchase and sale prices. Stating that at the end of the settlement process, fines were imposed on 21 undertakings operating in Trabzon and 10 undertakings operating in Düzce, Küle expressed that they would not allow anyone to come together and set the producer’s price, even at the local level.
INVESTIGATION OPENED ON 22 OCTOBER
Explaining that with the start of this year’s season, they launched a sector-wide preliminary investigation in September to check whether prices were formed freely and fairly, Küle said, “We carried out comprehensive on-site inspections at the leading undertakings operating in the region from the west to the east of the Black Sea. As a result of the information and documents we obtained, we opened an investigation on 22 October into the 6 major undertakings leading the hazelnut purchase and sale market on suspicion of serious competition violations.”
ANSWERS ARE BEING SOUGHT TO TWO FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
Stating that through the investigation they are pursuing two fundamental suspicions directly concerning producers’ welfare, Küle made the following assessment:
“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 large buyer, suppressing prices and forcing producers to sell cheaply? Second, ‘Are buyers who should be competing with one another in the market secretly agreeing to set common prices?’ In other words, whichever door our farmers go to in order to sell their product, are they left helpless by encountering the same low price agreed in advance? Our fundamental expectation from this investigation is to ensure that hazelnut prices are formed not through backroom deals but in the market’s own natural flow, in a fair and free competitive environment.”
“WE ARE DETERMINED TO USE ALL THE POWERS WE HAVE TO THE FULLEST”
Emphasizing that farmers are not alone, Küle said they are determined to use all legal tools and powers to the fullest so that hazelnuts find their true value and the 400,000 families who depend on this product for their livelihood can receive the reward for their labor. Küle used the following statements:
“Whoever seeks to artificially lower the prices of the hazelnuts they purchase, aims to buy the product more cheaply, and is willing to violate competition to do so will find us against them. We will conduct the investigation we have opened with this determined will. I say it clearly: if during our investigations we identify additional undertakings that victimize our farmers or violate competition, we will include them in the investigation without hesitation. We will continue to closely monitor the sector and work to the end so that our valuable producers’ labor receives its due.”