Hazelnuts market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The hazelnut market in Eastern Asia started at 36 320 t in 2018, with the processing industry in areas like Kaiyuan City beginning a transition toward specialized and mechanized operations. Volume then surged by 28% to 46 448 t in 2019, driven by the expansion of hazelnut cultivation areas in China, improved mechanization, and rising product quality, which together stimulated demand. After a decline to 39 313 t in 2020, the market recovered to 45 072 t in 2021 as deep-processing development diversified the product range with items like hazelnut paste and chocolate, attracting new consumers and expanding market boundaries.

Market volume continued its upward trend in 2022, reaching 49 535 t, supported by growing product segmentation and increasing market concentration around leading producers such as Hangzhou Haomusi Food and Qingdao Wolong Food. However, in 2023 the market contracted to 42 703 t, primarily due to macroeconomic disruptions including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Sino-US trade frictions, which affected supply chains and dampened consumer demand.

Throughout the period, the industry saw consistent technological modernization, including the introduction of new, resilient hazelnut varieties, water-saving irrigation, and green pest-control techniques. Government policies aimed at rural e‑commerce and smart agriculture further underpinned the sector’s development, laying a foundation for sustained industry growth.

Production hazelnuts in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of hazelnuts, 2017-2020

World map of production of hazelnuts, 2017-2020

In Eastern Asia, hazelnut production reached 25 276 tonnes in 2020, showing a slight increase of 1.6% compared to 2019. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 25 506 tonnes, which represented a 2.6% increase from the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest decline of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The value of hazelnut production in Eastern Asia stood at 78 716 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a modest 9.0% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value grew by 6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%. The peak was in 2018 at 81 439 thousand US dollars, a 9.7% increase, while the lowest point was in 2019 at 72 230 thousand US dollars, reflecting an 11.3% decrease.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports hazelnuts from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes of hazelnuts from Eastern Asia displayed significant volatility during the observed period. In 2020, exports totaled 1 980 tonnes, a 44.4% drop from 2019. The highest export level was in 2019 at 3 562 tonnes, which was a 127.3% surge from the previous year, while the lowest was in 2018 at 1 567 tonnes. Overall, exports fluctuated 2.3 times between the 2018 low and 2019 high.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and Thailand were the core markets for hazelnut exports in volume terms, together accounting for 56.8% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Hazelnut export values from Eastern Asia experienced irregular changes, indicating a volatile market. In 2020, exports were valued at 6 166 thousand US dollars, down 40.4% from 2019. The peak occurred in 2019 at 10 346 thousand US dollars, a 106.8% increase, while the lowest was in 2018 at 5 004 thousand US dollars. This resulted in a 2.1-fold gap between the 2018 low and 2019 high.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Vietnam dominated hazelnut exports in value terms with 51.3% of the total, followed by Thailand at 5.1% and Kyrgyzstan at 0.7%. Together, these three markets represented 57.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports hazelnuts to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes of hazelnuts into Eastern Asia showed notable volatility. In 2020, imports totaled 16 017 tonnes, a 36.3% decrease from 2019. The highest import level was in 2019 at 25 141 tonnes, which marked a 103.1% increase from the previous year, while the lowest was in 2017. Overall, imports varied 2.8 times between the 2017 trough and 2019 peak.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Turkey were the primary sources for hazelnut imports in volume terms, jointly making up 96.2% of total import flows, with other partners contributing the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values of hazelnuts into Eastern Asia exhibited noticeable fluctuations. In 2020, imports were valued at 68 247 thousand US dollars, a sharp 26.8% decline from the previous year. The peak was in 2019 at 93 223 thousand US dollars, a 72.2% increase, while the lowest was in 2018 at 54 141 thousand US dollars. This created a 1.7-fold difference between the 2018 low and 2019 high.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Turkey and the United States were the key sources for hazelnut imports in value terms, together accounting for 96.5% of total import flows, while other partners played a much smaller role individually.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020