Walnuts are available at incredible prices

(Photo: Pixabay)

The net producer price of raw, shelled walnuts ranged between 700–1200 forints per kilogram, depending on the quality, typically at the level of 800–900 forints. In January, Hungarian walnut kernels cost 3000–3500 forints on the Budapest wholesale market, but from February onwards, mainly imported goods appeared. The price of imported walnut kernels ranges between 3,500 and 5,000 forints, with halved walnuts being the more expensive category and broken kernels being the cheaper category. The price increase is not only due to the poor domestic harvest, but also due to the decrease in European supply.

Last season, the country’s walnut harvest was severely divided

The frosts in May that hit the northeastern regions – especially in the case of early varieties – caused significant losses, while Transdanubia was in a more favorable situation. The drought that lasted from April to the end of June, as well as hailstorms in some places, further worsened yields. In several regions, only 30-50 percent of the usual quantity was realized.

Although the area under walnut production has increased in the past decade, the proportion of intensive, irrigated plantations is low

In modern farms, a yield of 4-5 tons per hectare is achievable, while the national average remains below 1 ton. Hungary is self-sufficient in shelled walnuts, but imports of walnut kernels are increasing, mainly from Romania and Ukraine, while exports have fallen by a quarter in the past five years. Demand remains strong, but market competition is price-driven. In the long term, only modern, high-yield plantations can ensure the competitiveness of Hungarian walnuts.

Agrarszektor