The effect of Dubai chocolate on pistachios: There has been an artificial increase in prices over the last 1.5 months.

The Dubai chocolate craze, which has spread across the world with the influence of social media, has led to an average increase of 25% in pistachio prices over the last two months. The increase in demand for Antep pistachios has disrupted the supply-demand balance in the market, affecting baklava and pistachio dessert producers the most. Last week, bakers who procured Antep pistachios at an average price of 900 lira per kilogram bought them this week for 1,300 lira. While producers reduced baklava production, sales also dropped by 40%.

"A 25% ARTIFICIAL INCREASE IN PRICES IS OBSERVED"

Mehmet Ali Taşdemir, a board member of BAKTAD, stated, "There has been an average artificial increase of about 25% in prices over the last 1.5 months. Recently, the yield was very high; this year, pistachios that were 800-900 lira are now seeing prices around 1,200 lira again. Our stocks are quite full; our warehouses are still filled to the brim with pistachios. Our request is this: let those who invest money and hoard, those who are opportunists, not be given the opportunity."

Dubai chocolate, which has become popular worldwide due to social media, has increased the demand for Antep pistachios, one of its raw materials. Packaged production of Dubai chocolate has also become widespread, appearing not only in sweet shops but also on the shelves of bakeries, supermarkets, and local grocery stores. The increase in demand for Antep pistachios has disrupted the supply-demand balance in the market, affecting baklava and pistachio dessert producers the most. Last week, bakers who procured Antep pistachios at an average price of 900 lira per kilogram bought them this week for 1,300 lira.

"NON-SECTOR PLAYERS HAVE ENTERED THE MARKET"

Mehmet Ali Taşdemir, a board member of the Baklava and Dessert Producers Association (BAKTAD), stated, "Dubai chocolate has been sweeping through Turkey and the world recently. Of course, this has led to a significant increase in demand for Gaziantep pistachios, one of the most important ingredients. In this situation, as always, when the supply-demand balance changes, non-sector players have also entered the market for Gaziantep pistachios. Recently, there has been an average artificial increase of about 25% in prices over the last 1.5 months. The yield was very high this year. Pistachios that were 800-900 lira are now seeing prices around 1,200 lira again. This also leads to an increase in the price of baklava. As raw materials and inputs rise, prices increase, and people's purchasing power decreases. Once again, someone has managed to add bitterness to the taste of baklava," he said.

"LET THOSE WHO INVEST MONEY AND HOARD NOT BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY"

Taşdemir pointed out that there are non-sector players in pistachios, stating, "What we advocate as BAKTAD is the control of consumption, ensuring certified hoarding, and knowing the actual yield of the product, with support being given to the product rather than the area. In this way, when the entire product is recorded and in extreme situations where demand develops, non-sector players should not be given the opportunity. We cannot say that we are having a hard time finding pistachios. Because the yield for 2024 is the highest in the last 50 years. For example, while the average yield last year was around 170,000 to 200,000 tons; this year's yield is around 700,000 tons. Even if we try to feed the whole world with Dubai chocolate, Gaziantep pistachios will not run out in Turkey. Thank God, our stocks are quite full; our warehouses are still filled to the brim with pistachios. You cannot finish 700,000 tons by using 100,000 tons of pistachios. Our only request from our government and authorities is this: those who do this work, those who put effort into it, those who benefit from it, and those who provide employment should benefit. Those who put effort into this work should earn their money, but let those who only invest money and hoard, those who are opportunists, not be given the opportunity. They know much better how to do this, and we, as NGOs, continue to present our suggestions to them," he said.

"FALLING PISTACHIO PRICES HAVE RECOVERED DUE TO DUBAI CHOCOLATE"

Sweets maker Mehmet Çiftçi noted that there has been an increase in pistachio prices within a week, stating, "We normally work on baklava, kadayıf, and künefe, but there is so much demand for Dubai chocolate that we had to produce it as well. Dubai chocolate is everywhere in bakeries right now. There is a lot of demand for Dubai chocolate; pistachio prices have risen accordingly. While it was around 900 lira last week, it has now risen to around 1,200 lira, 1,300 lira. The decrease in pistachio prices benefits our people because we need to raise the price of baklava, and when we raise the price, people already have no purchasing power, making it even harder for them. For example, when I went to buy pistachios earlier, they told us that the price of pistachios would rise again. We thought about whether to raise the price of baklava accordingly, but we are not doing that right now. There is a gap of about 25%. Pistachio prices had actually fallen two months ago. The falling pistachio prices have risen again due to Dubai chocolate. We are still in favor of a decrease, but they say it will rise again, and they say it will reach 1,500 lira. It affects baklava incredibly, meaning it has affected baklava sales by about 40%. Everyone who comes asks about Dubai chocolate; young people are asking about Dubai chocolate. Today, when I was making 5 trays, I dropped to 2 trays, and when I was making 10 trays, I dropped to 5 trays," he expressed.

"WE PRODUCE ANTEP PISTACHIOS BUT CANNOT EAT THEM"

Oğuzhan Apaydın emphasized that Antep pistachios are a luxury for citizens, stating, "I am a person who values quality; I prefer to buy less from a quality place. I prefer to buy high-quality, low-quantity products rather than low-priced, low-quality products. Right now, Antep pistachios are already on the agenda. As I said, Antep pistachios are becoming a luxury. As the Turkish nation, Antep pistachios are actually something we produce, but we cannot eat them, we cannot taste them, and we are struggling with this issue," he said.

Cenk Efe Daşdan said, "Some people can eat pistachios, some people cannot. It varies from person to person, but of course, it is expensive, and most people cannot afford it. People want everyone to be able to buy it, everyone wants to eat it, and there are definitely some tricks involved. It's normal, so I wouldn't be surprised if peas are mixed in; after all, the price has increased a lot, and in the end, not everyone can afford it."