Thanks to a surge in new plantings, the nut is becoming a new engine for growth in Chilean agriculture
Exports of Chilean hazelnuts grew by 135.4 per cent in value and 161.4 per cent in volume in 2025/26, fuelled by strong global demand and a boom in new plantings.
According to a report in AgroLatam, planted area as almost doubled in four years to 49,264ha, making it the fruit crop with the second-largest planted area in the country. Of these, only about 11,000ha are currently in full production, With the remainder still maturing, supply is set to surge over the coming years.
Production is concentrated primarily in the Maule, La Araucanía, Ñuble, and Biobío regions.
The expansion of exports is largely driven by demand from the European food industry. Italy remains the largest buyer of Chilean hazelnuts, followed by Germany and Poland –markets where demand from the chocolate and processed food industries remains robust.
Chile now ranks second globally as an exporter of shelled hazelnuts and leads the international trade in in-shell hazelnuts, solidifying its position against other major suppliers.
