This Thursday, March 26, the 4th European Hazelnut Day was held in Talca, Maule Region, organized by Grupo Avexa. The event brought together producers, advisors, exporters, and industry representatives, along with international delegations from the main producing countries—including Turkey—reflecting the growing global interest in the development of this crop in Chile.
The event confirmed the strong momentum of the European hazelnut sector in the country, which by 2026 has reached nearly 65,000 hectares planted, with particularly rapid growth in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, where planting rates have reached approximately 20%. In contrast, Maule—historically the core of the crop—has shown a slowdown in area expansion, influenced by competition with crops such as walnut and cherry, as well as water constraints.
Industry projections indicate that Chile will surpass 80,000 hectares by 2030, consolidating its position as the world’s second-largest producer, with around 11% global market share, far behind Turkey but expected to maintain that position in the medium term. Globally, production is expected to reach approximately 1.2 million tons in 2026.
Production: adjustment after an exceptional year
From a production standpoint, the 2026 season is expected to show a slight decline compared to the extraordinary 2025, when Chile experienced a historic jump from 54,000 tons in 2024 to 115,000 tons, driven by particularly favorable weather conditions.
For 2026, however, a moderate drop is anticipated, mainly explained by recent weather events. Accumulated rainfall between 115 and 170 mm has led to high humidity levels (close to 18%), affecting both harvest operations and soil conditions. Currently, about 30% of the fruit remains on the ground, requiring accelerated work within a critical window of approximately 10 days to avoid losses and enable mechanization in some areas.
Phytosanitary challenges: increasing pressure
The production outlook is also strained by phytosanitary factors. The stink bug—particularly the brown stink bug in Chile—has increased its incidence, in line with a global trend where the brown marmorated stink bug has risen by 22% in recent years. For 2026, associated damage is projected to exceed 5%, directly impacting fruit quality.
This is compounded by an increase in bacterial issues, favored by high humidity conditions, reinforcing the need for more sophisticated and timely management strategies.
Rising costs and record prices
On the commercial side, one of the key highlights was the significant increase in processing costs. Between 2024 and 2026, there has been a sharp rise in drying and cleaning costs—critical factors in a context of higher fruit moisture.
However, this scenario has been offset by a highly favorable market. In 2026, Chile faces record prices for hazelnuts, driven by tighter global supply and sustained demand—particularly from the chocolate industry, whose consumption has grown by nearly 45% over the past three years.
Additionally, prices for varieties such as Tonda di Giffoni and others have increased by more than 50%, reflecting the strong valuation of the raw material.
Investment and industrial expansion
The sector’s attractiveness is also reflected in new investments. Companies such as Ferrero have reaffirmed their commitment to Chile, while Turkish capital, such as Balsu, has announced investments of US$12.7 million for a new plant in the Maule Region, expected to open in the coming months.
This interest comes in a context where the Northern Hemisphere—including regions such as Piedmont in Italy and Turkey—projects “normal” production for 2026, better than 2025 (a year affected by frost), but still below optimal levels, with quality challenges linked to climatic and phytosanitary factors.
Chile: an industry maturing
Beyond short-term challenges, the event highlighted the structural progress of the Chilean industry. The incorporation of new management systems, adapted genetics, locally developed machinery, and coordinated work with the chemical industry have supported production increases and improved supply consistency.
In this context, the president of the National Agriculture Society, Antonio Walker, emphasized the strategic role of European hazelnuts, which are now the second-largest fruit crop in Chile by planted area, second only to cherries.
Walker also noted that Chilean agriculture—representing about 14% of GDP when considering its extended value chain—faces a major opportunity for expansion, especially in the southern part of the country, where climate change is shifting the productive frontier approximately 5 kilometers south every 10 years. This phenomenon opens new prospects for regions such as Ñuble, Biobío, and La Araucanía.
Outlook: focus on quality and sustained growth
While the Northern Hemisphere faces greater production constraints and quality challenges, Chile is positioning itself as a reliable origin, with increasing output and high standards.
The main challenge ahead will be to sustain this growth under criteria of quality, efficiency, and sustainability in an increasingly demanding market.
With an industry that has grown by more than 790% over the past decade, and with growing international interest, the European hazelnut sector in Chile is consolidating not only as an expanding crop, but also as a strategic pillar in the country’s projection as a global eco-food powerhouse.
