Hazelnuts market in Portugal

Earlier Report Observations

The hazelnut market in Portugal remained heavily reliant on imports from 2018 to 2023, as domestic production was limited to around 250 tons annually. Rising global consumption outpaced supply, creating incentives for market expansion. Initiatives by companies like Ferrero, offering long-term purchase contracts and technical training, encouraged local farmers to consider hazelnuts as a profitable alternative.

Market volume fluctuated between 594 tons and 697 tons during the period, with growth in 2020 and 2021. Efforts to modernize cultivation, including denser planting and mechanization supported by AGROMILLORA and HIDRO-IBÉRICA, aimed at improving production efficiency. In 2022, the National Hazelnut Promotion Association (Corylus) organized events to strengthen the supply chain, and producer groups began jointly acquiring machinery to address equipment shortages.

Despite these developments, domestic production saw only modest increases, and market volume in 2023 reached 682 tons, slightly above the 2018 level. The presence of a major buyer like Ferrero provided stability, but the market continued to depend on imports to meet demand.

Production hazelnuts in Portugal

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Portugal was among the world's leading hazelnut producers from 2018 to 2021, ranking 26th globally by production volume.

Top producers of hazelnuts, 2018-2021

World map of production of hazelnuts, 2018-2021

After two consecutive years of decline, Portugal's hazelnut production rebounded in 2021. The country produced 240.0 t of hazelnuts that year, marking a robust 14.3% increase compared to 2020. Production had reached its lowest point in 2020 at 210.0 t, following the largest annual decline of 8.3% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Exports hazelnuts from Portugal

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed irregular fluctuations, reflecting a volatile market environment. The period from 2018 to 2019 saw the most dramatic swing, with a 4.2-fold difference between the peak and trough. In 2021, Portugal exported 9.8 t of hazelnuts, an 8.9% increase from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 23.1 t, which represented a massive 324.9% surge from 2018. However, exports then plummeted by 61.0% in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, Angola, and Denmark were Portugal's primary hazelnut export markets by volume. Spain accounted for 36.5% of exports, Angola for 24.3%, and Denmark for 19.9%. Together, these three countries represented 80.7% of Portugal's total hazelnut exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values exhibited significant volatility during this period. The market swung from a low in 2018 to a high in 2019, with a 1.7-fold difference between these years. In 2021, Portugal's hazelnut exports reached 87 K $ US, showing a modest 4.2% year-over-year increase. The peak value occurred in 2019 at 110 K $ US, which represented a substantial 74.0% jump from 2018. This was followed by a 24.5% decline in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In value terms, Angola, Denmark, and Spain were Portugal's most important hazelnut export markets from 2018 to 2021. Angola accounted for 36.4% of export value, Denmark for 25.7%, and Spain for 15.0%. Collectively, these three markets represented 77.1% of Portugal's total hazelnut export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Imports hazelnuts to Portugal

Imports in kind, t

Portugal's hazelnut imports grew for the second consecutive year in 2021, reaching 466.9 t—a 1.2% increase from 2020. Over the entire 2018-2021 period, imports rose by 7.7%, equivalent to a 2.5% compound annual growth rate. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 397.6 t, following an 8.3% decline that year. Imports then rebounded with a 16.0% increase in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, Turkey, and France were the main sources of hazelnut imports to Portugal by volume. Spain supplied 37.1% of imports, Turkey 30.0%, and France 8.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 76.1% of Portugal's total hazelnut imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Portugal's hazelnut import values continued their upward trend for the second straight year in 2021, totaling 3 480 K $ US—a slight 1.0% increase from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, import values grew by 23.4%, translating to a 7.2% annualized growth rate. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 2 767 K $ US, after a 1.9% decline that year. This was followed by a significant 24.5% increase in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

During the 2018-2021 period, Spain, Turkey, and France emerged as Portugal's primary hazelnut import sources by value. Spain accounted for 39.0% of import value, Turkey for 26.5%, and France for 11.1%. These three markets together represented 76.6% of Portugal's total hazelnut import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021