Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Turkey probes six hazelnut buyers over suspected competition violations
Turkey’s competition authority opened an investigation into six major hazelnut buyers on October 22.
The probe covers businesses in Turkey’s Black Sea hazelnut market, where about 400,000 families earn income directly from the crop.
Turkey produces around 70% of the world’s hazelnuts, making the market important to growers and trade.
Officials are examining whether local buyers were steered by the biggest buyer to push prices down, or whether competing buyers agreed on prices.
The authority says it wants prices set through fair and free competition, rather than secret agreements that could leave farmers with fewer options.
It previously fined 31 businesses in Trabzon and Düzce over alleged price-setting; the source says those cases ended in settlements.
The authority is also monitoring Ferrero’s binding commitments for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 buying seasons, and says it could impose a heavy fine if it finds the company has breached them.
The six-company investigation is ongoing, and the authority says it will use its powers to protect growers.
Turkey’s Competition Authority opened an investigation on October 22 into six major hazelnut buyers over suspected competition violations.
The authority is examining whether a large buyer influenced local and medium-sized buyers to push down prices, or whether competing buyers agreed on prices.
The investigation followed a preliminary sector review launched in September, with inspections across hazelnut-producing areas.
Competition Authority official Küle said the aim is to ensure hazelnut prices are set through fair and free competition.
The authority has also monitored Ferrero’s commitments covering the 2024, 2025 and 2026 buying seasons.
- Who
- Turkey’s Competition Authority is investigating six major hazelnut buyers.
- What
- It is examining suspected competition violations, including possible efforts to suppress or coordinate buying prices.
- When
- The investigation opened on October 22, following a preliminary review launched in September.
- Where
- Turkey’s hazelnut buying and selling market, including production areas along the Black Sea coast.
- Why
- The authority is investigating concerns that conduct by buyers may be pushing down prices paid to hazelnut producers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The authority investigated allegations that Ferrero had abused its position as the largest buyer in the hazelnut purchasing market.
The authority conducted two investigations over allegations that businesses had agreed on hazelnut buying and selling prices, and fined 21 businesses in Trabzon and 10 in Düzce after settlement processes.
The authority launched a preliminary review of the sector as the hazelnut season began.
The authority opened an investigation into six major businesses in the hazelnut buying and selling market.
- Businesses under investigation
- 6 major buyers
- Investigation opened
- October 22
- Preliminary review began
- September
- Ferrero commitments cover
- 2024, 2025 and 2026 buying seasons
- Fines after 2024 price investigations
- 21 businesses in Trabzon; 10 in Düzce
2 sources
What people are saying
We are seeking clear answers to these questions in the investigation. First, is there a connection between the market’s largest buyer and local and medium-sized buyers in the field aimed at lowering prices?
Are buyers who should be competing with one another secretly agreeing on a common price?
Our main expectation from this investigation is to ensure that hazelnut prices are formed not through agreements made behind a desk, but through the market’s natural course, in an environment of fair and free competition.
If we find that Ferrero has failed to comply with its commitments or has tried to circumvent them and harm farmers, a very heavy administrative fine against the company will be on the agenda.