DURSUN OĞUZ GÜRSOY: WE AIM 325 THOUSAND TONS OF HAZELNUT EXPORTS THIS YEAR

Dursun Oğuz Gürsoy, Vice Chaiman of the Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters' Association,
said that their end of season targets are 325 thousand tons of hazelnut exports and 2.5 billion dollars in foreign currency.

Expressing that these developments in hazelnut exports are very pleasing, Gürsoy said that the industry representatives feel satisfied.

Gürsoy emphasized that one of the most pleasing developments in addition to the export of hazelnuts to Germany and Italy in the traditional markets is the increase in exports to China.

Noting that positive developments in China will increase the possibility of selling hazelnuts to Far East in the future, Gürsoy said, "In the coming years, China may even be in the top 3. This is a situation we always expect."

Gürsoy stated that there was a slowdown in consumption in the market chains in February due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in China, but they expect this slowdown to end and the sector to move again.

"Quality of Turkish hazelnuts rather high"

Remembering that the success achieved in exports is in favour of everyone from the producer to the factory, from the grocery store to the integrator, Gürsoy also underlined that the state's hazelnut policies play an important role in this success.

Gürsoy explained that Turkish hazelnut is quite good in terms of quality and concluded:

"Hazelnut is rather plump and yield is high too. The bruising rate is much lower when compared to last year. The aflatoxin problem is very low this year. The amount of returning hazelnuts is extremely low. Our situation in this regard is at much better points than in the past. What we especially want that our producers should never disrupt the fight against pests and take care the quality as usual."