Hazelnut
The hazelnut is the nut of Corylus avellana and Corylus maxima, shrubs and small trees grown along the Black Sea coast of Turkiye and Georgia, in Italy, Azerbaijan, Chile, the United States and increasingly in Spain, France and Serbia. The nut ripens inside a leafy husk, drops or is shaken to the ground, and is dried in shell before cracking. Nearly all traded volume is kernel rather than inshell, and most of that goes to industry rather than retail. Chocolate and confectionery is the dominant outlet, where hazelnut is used roasted whole, chopped, or ground into the paste that forms the base of gianduja and nut spreads. Bakery, ice cream, breakfast cereal and snack packing take the rest. The kernel skin is bitter, so blanching, the removal of the skin by heat and abrasion, is a normal processing step and blanched product trades at a premium to natural.
Listed hazelnut markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Hazelnut kernel is graded by diameter on round hole sieves in two millimetre bands, alongside quality class, moisture and defect tolerances. Inshell hazelnut is graded on the same diameter principle applied to the shell.
Kernel diameter
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| 9 to 11 mmSmall | Passes an 11 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 9 mm sieve. |
| 11 to 13 mmStandard | Passes a 13 mm round hole sieve and is retained on an 11 mm sieve. The most widely traded industrial band. |
| 13 to 15 mmLarge | Passes a 15 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 13 mm sieve. |
| 15 to 17 mmExtra large | Passes a 17 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 15 mm sieve. |
| Above 17 mmJumbo | Retained on a 17 mm round hole sieve. Used for whole roasted retail and gifting. |
Inshell diameter
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| 11 to 13 mmSmall | Passes a 13 mm round hole sieve and is retained on an 11 mm sieve. |
| 13 to 15 mmMedium | Passes a 15 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 13 mm sieve. |
| 15 to 17 mmLarge | Passes a 17 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 15 mm sieve. |
| 17 to 19 mmExtra large | Passes a 19 mm round hole sieve and is retained on a 17 mm sieve. |
| Above 19 mmJumbo | Retained on a 19 mm round hole sieve. |
Kernel form
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Natural kernelSkin on | Raw kernel with the brown pellicle intact, sized by diameter band. |
| Blanched kernelSkin removed | Kernel heated and abraded to remove the pellicle. The contract states the maximum percentage of residual skin permitted. |
| Roasted kernelHeat treated | Kernel roasted to a stated colour endpoint, usually measured on a reflectance scale agreed between the parties. |
| Diced and choppedParticle size in millimetres | Kernel cut and screened to a stated particle size range, for example 2 mm to 4 mm. |
| Meal and flourPassing a stated aperture | Finely ground kernel, specified by the sieve aperture the material passes. |
| PasteParticle fineness in microns | Roasted kernel milled to a paste, specified by residual particle fineness and by fat content. |
Moisture, class and defects
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| MoistureMaximum 6.0 per cent | Hazelnut kernel is dried to a maximum of 6.0 per cent moisture so that it can be stored without mould or rancidity. |
| Quality classExtra Class, Class I, Class II | Three classes with progressively wider tolerances for shrivelled, mouldy, rancid and insect damaged kernel. |
| Defective kernelPercentage by number | Counts of mouldy, rancid, decayed, insect damaged and shrivelled kernel are each capped separately by class. |
| AflatoxinMicrograms per kilogram | Hazelnut is a regulated aflatoxin risk. The contract states the limit and the sampling plan, which follow the rules of the destination market. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Turkiye | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Azerbaijan | Caucasus | Origin |
| Georgia | Caucasus | Origin |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Serbia | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Switzerland | Europe | Destination |
| Belgium | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Russia | Europe | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| Ukraine | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkiye | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to DecBlack Sea harvest from mid August. Shipment runs from September and continues through the crop year. | |||||||
| Georgia | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovHarvest from August in Samegrelo and Guria, shipping mainly into Europe. | ||||||||
| Azerbaijan | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovHarvest from August in the Zaqatala and Qakh districts. | ||||||||
| Italy | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovPiedmont, Lazio and Campania harvest from late August, largely absorbed by domestic confectionery. | ||||||||
| United States | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Oct, arrival Oct to DecOregon Willamette Valley harvest from late September. | ||||||||
| Chile | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Apr to JunSouthern hemisphere harvest from February, landing into the northern hemisphere gap. | |||||||
| Spain | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovCatalonia and Tarragona harvest from late August. | ||||||||
| France | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovSouthwest harvest from late August. | ||||||||
| Serbia | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovA young and expanding origin, harvesting on the European pattern. | ||||||||
| Iran | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovNorthern provinces harvest from August, mostly consumed domestically. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for hazelnut. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading0802.21 Hazelnuts, in shell
0802.22 Hazelnuts, shelled - PackingIn shell in jute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg. Kernels vacuum packed in cartons or tins of 10 kg to 25 kg, nitrogen flushed for high oil content nuts. Moisture at pack is the specification that decides shelf life.
- Container loading20ft: 14 t to 19 t. In shell is weight limited, kernel is volume limited. Reefer at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius for long transits on high oil kernels.
- Contract and arbitrationINC quality standards with the Dried Fruit and Edible Nut trade contract in Europe, arbitration in London, and Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration for United States trade.
- Destination limitsEU aflatoxin limits under Regulation 2023/915, being 2 ug/kg B1 and 4 ug/kg total for ready to eat nuts and higher where the lot is to be sorted before consumption. Salmonella controls, and increased official controls under Regulation 2019/1793 for several origins. US FDA action level of 20 ug/kg total aflatoxin.
Common questions
What grades of hazelnut does SIP Global trade?
We quote 20 published grades of hazelnut, including 9 to 11 mm - Small, 11 to 13 mm - Standard, 13 to 15 mm - Large, 15 to 17 mm - Extra large, Above 17 mm - Jumbo and 11 to 13 mm - Small. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is hazelnut graded?
Hazelnut kernel is graded by diameter on round hole sieves in two millimetre bands, alongside quality class, moisture and defect tolerances. Inshell hazelnut is graded on the same diameter principle applied to the shell. Grading runs on 4 systems: Kernel diameter, Inshell diameter, Kernel form and Moisture, class and defects.
Where does SIP Global trade hazelnut?
We trade hazelnut in Turkiye, Italy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, United States, Chile, Spain and France and 14 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is hazelnut harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Turkiye: harvest aug to sep, arrival sep to dec; Georgia: harvest aug to sep, arrival sep to nov; Azerbaijan: harvest aug to sep, arrival sep to nov; Italy: harvest aug to sep, arrival sep to nov; United States: harvest sep to oct, arrival oct to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for hazelnut?
Hazelnut is normally classified under HS 0802.21 (hazelnuts, in shell) and HS 0802.22 (hazelnuts, shelled). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for hazelnut?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed hazelnut market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.