1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Extreme weather in Turkey causes hazelnut crisis

03:51

This browser does not support the video element.

Katharina Willinger in Ordu, Turkey
October 18, 2025

Nowhere else in the world are as many hazelnuts produced as in Turkey. But this year, a cold snap and heavy rain have destroyed parts of the harvest. It's not just chocolate lovers who will have to brace themselves for rising prices.

Turkey's hazelnut harvest has been devastated by climate change. In Ordu, farmers like Zekayi Sagra report losing over half their crop due to a severe April frost.

Rising global temperatures cause trees to flower earlier, making them vulnerable to late frosts. Experts warn of a 40% drop in yield, driving up global hazelnut prices by 30%.

Pests and low state-regulated prices have exacerbated the crisis, forcing some farmers to abandon their land. The phenomenon is part of a growing trend known as "climateflation."

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW