hazelnut is one of the most essential dried fruits, which is helpful in a healthy diet, nuts, the chocolate industry, etc. Therefore, knowing which countries have the most suppliers around the world would be suitable. Turkey alone produces more than 60 per cent of the world's hazelnuts. Italy ranks second with 98,530 tons per year. With an annual production of 53,793 tons, Azerbaijan is the third-largest producer of hazelnuts. The United States ranks fourth with 39,920 tons per year. The major hazelnut-producing nations are Greece, the United States, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Even though the former Soviet Union, Iran, Romania, and France produce hazelnuts, these nations have little involvement in the world hazelnut trade. The leading producer and exporter of hazelnut worldwide are Turkey. Additionally, it represents roughly 80% of worldwide exports and 70% of output, respectively. With about 20% of production and 15% of exports, Italy is a close second. The annual variation in global hazelnut production is caused by shifting climatic conditions. 
Turkey's output has increased alongside overall global production. Turkey produces between 3.5 and 40 million tons of shellfish annually, and in recent years, this amount has grown to 500 thousand tons. Italy and Spain are two significant producers with production ranging from 15 to 25,000 tonnes and between 100 and 125,000 tonnes. The majority of the world's hazelnut crop is consumed by the United States, which also imports hazelnut kernels for use in industry. However, it has recently started to export hazelnuts after expanding production (to 25,000 tons). Italy (0,520 kg kernels/person) has the biggest yearly and per capita consumption of hazelnuts among the producing nations. Greece comes in second (0.369 kg/capita), and Turkey comes in third (0.250 kg/capita), according to 1993 data. Switzerland consumes the most hazelnuts per person worldwide (2.09 g/person). Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg came next. Exports of hazelnuts vary according to global production. With over 35% of all worldwide imports coming from Germany, it is the wealthiest country worldwide for hazelnut imports. Despite being the second-largest producer in the world, Italy sources a sizable portion of the demand for chocolate from Turkey. France, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg are among the nations that have boosted their hazelnut imports recently, whereas Switzerland's import rate is steady. 
Top Hazelnut Exporters
The database maintained by the International Trade Center (ITC) contains information regarding the nations that export and import hazelnuts. Utilising Social Network Analysis, you can construct, display, and investigate the Nut Trade Network. - Each year, the total value of hazelnuts shipped worldwide is $2.3 billion. The top countries that export hazelnuts are Turkey (70.2 per cent), Italy (8.7 per cent), Georgia (7.4 per cent), and Azerbaijan (3.9 per cent). Germany exports hazelnuts as well (2.5 per cent). The top five countries that import hazelnuts are Germany (30.6%), Italy (18.6%), France (10.2%), and Canada (5.1%). Switzerland imports the least number of hazelnuts (5.1%). (5.0 per cent). The international trade of hazelnuts increased by an annualised rate of 14 per cent between 2011 and 2015. The percentage of total exports for Turkey, Spain, and Germany are all lower than the average for the world. In recent years, it has been established that exports have expanded at a rate that is higher than the average for the globe in the following countries: Chile (88 per cent), the United States (25 per cent), the Netherlands (24 per cent), Italy (21 per cent), and Georgia (16 per cent). 
When looking at the social network for the global hazelnut trade, one can see that the hazelnut trade is conducted in 80 different nations. Regarding the volume of their exports, the most important countries are Turkey, Italy, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Germany, the Netherlands, and Chile. In the meantime, the countries with the highest export levels are Turkey, Spain, Georgia, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Turkey is the world's largest exporter of hazelnuts, sending 60.6% of its crop to European countries. These nations are Poland (31.7 per cent), Germany (11.7 per cent), France (11.9 per cent), and Italy (30.5%). (6.5 per cent). It is anticipated that the increase in the number of hazelnuts exported from countries such as Chile, the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Georgia will have a detrimental impact on the hazelnut trade in Turkey as well as the existing structure of the market. Compared with the meagre export rates of Turkish hazelnuts, In the coming years, Turkey will have to contend with fierce rivalry on the American continent (Chile and the United States), in European markets (Netherlands and Italy), and in Asian markets (Turkey) (Georgia and Azerbaijan). 
hazelnut consumption by country
The hazelnut market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 10% during the expected time frame (2022-2027). People tend to eat nutritious foods, such as fruits, nuts, and other things, due to COVID-19. Due to their high-fat content, nuts, which are a part of most healthy eating regimens, have a high energy density. Linoleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, and protein are all abundant in hazelnuts. Compared to other nuts, it has higher levels of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Consuming hazelnuts may also assist in controlling inflammatory and immunological reactions. Hazelnut demand is therefore anticipated to increase in the future. Eating hazelnuts have been demonstrated to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and boost sales. Hazelnuts are a common ingredient in sweets like cakes, cookies, pralines, chocolate dishes, and pastries. Numerous producers launch cutting-edge products on the market as consumer demand for goods rises. The world's largest provider of nut processing equipment, Bühler, increased the need for natural hazelnuts in May 2018 by introducing a cutting-edge hybrid sorting technology in Turkey to create a raw hazelnut processing system. 
Turkey dominates the hazelnut production industry with an estimated 65 per cent global share. Europe is anticipated to experience the most significant CAGR of 7.6% in consumption over the projected period due to growing hazelnut demand in the continent's chocolate industry. With rising consumer demand and more substantial health benefits, the market is anticipated to expand during the forecast period. Italy is both the world's second-largest producer and consumer of hazelnuts. In Italy, hazelnuts are sold in and out of the shell as snacks to confectioners and bakeries. 90% of the country's hazelnuts are processed, and 10% are eaten fresh. Turkey produces and consumes the most hazelnuts. While hazelnut output has risen in the previous 15 years, consumption has plummeted, especially between 2012 and 2015. Turkey exports 30% of its hazelnuts or 59% of world exports. Locals consume 70%. Third-largest hazelnut consumer: Germany. Germany is the leading importer and processor of nuts. To meet expanding demand, the country needs to import hazelnuts. Changes in production parameters and foreign prices cause periodic consumption swings. 
Hazelnut exports
90% of the hazelnuts sold globally are purchased by European nations, primarily (80%) for the confectionery and chocolate industries. An average of 540,000 tons of shelled hazelnuts were exchanged between 2000 and 2008, with Turkey receiving 85% of all exports. The leading exporters outside of Turkey are Italy, Germany, the United States, and Spain. Although they don't grow hazelnuts, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Canada are among the nations that export imported goods. Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Russia, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Poland, Greece, and Denmark are the nations that import the most hazelnuts worldwide. On average, Turkey has been exporting hazelnut kernels, equivalent to 400,000 tons of hazelnuts in their shell, for the previous 30 years. As hazelnut production has expanded, this amount has recently gone up. 
Five hundred twenty-seven thousand tons of shelled hazelnuts, or 263,000 tons, were exported during the 2010–11 season. Turkey's exports in the 2011–2012 season are dependent on the following nations: 74% of the EU, 10% of other European countries, 9.5% of international countries, and 6% of other nations. Germany accounts for 21% of exports, followed by Italy (17%), France (14%), Poland (4%), and Canada (4%). Hazelnuts from Turkey are exported, with 58 per cent processed, 17 per cent whole processed, and 25 per cent extra processed. According to the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey, hazelnut exports make for 2% of all exports and 15-20% of agricultural exports. On a total area of 700,000 hectares, 380,000 families grow hazelnuts, supporting the livelihoods of three million people. A record-breaking 600,000 tons of raw hazelnuts were exported in 2012–2013, bringing approximately US$1.8 billion for the Republic of Turkey.