Italy is facing one of the most challenging hazelnut seasons in decades. In the traditional growing regions, from the hills of Piedmont to the plantations in Lazio and Campania, this year's harvest has collapsed dramatically. Farmers and industry associations are reporting production declines of up to 70 percent. The combination of climate change, pest infestations, and aging orchards has severely reduced output and driven up the prices of raw hazelnuts.
Several mild winters and late frosts
After several mild winters, the plantations were hit by late frosts in the spring of 2025, followed by an extremely hot and dry summer. The sensitive hazel trees dropped much of their fruit before it could ripen. At the same time, the invasive pest Halyomorpha halys , introduced from Asia, continues to spread, causing significant quality losses. Many trees are also aging, and there is a lack of investment in modern irrigation systems and new, more resilient varieties. The result is one of the weakest harvests in 20 years. The economic consequences are being felt across the industry. At trading hubs in northern Italy, prices for shelled hazelnuts have nearly doubled compared to the previous year. While a kilogram still cost around seven euros in the fall of 2024, current market prices , according to an analysis by the trade portal Nocciolare.it , have risen to over 14 euros. The Cuneo Chamber of Commerce is also reporting record figures. The price surge is hitting the Italian confectionery industry particularly hard, as it depends on high-quality hazelnuts. Companies like Ferrero, whose globally recognized brand Nutella reportedly contains around 13 percent hazelnuts according to the manufacturer, are now facing significantly higher raw material costs.
The distinctive flavor of the Italian hazelnut
Ferrero has so far made no official statement regarding potential price adjustments. The company has long sourced its hazelnuts not exclusively from Italy but also from Turkey, Chile, and the United States. Yet the Italian nut is considered especially valuable for its aroma and quality and is used primarily in premium products. According to a report by La Stampa , the decline in domestic production is increasing procurement pressure and could, in the medium term, also affect retail prices. Shelves in supermarkets remain stably priced for now, but industry experts expect the rising costs to make themselves felt over the course of the coming year. Rather than sudden price jumps, a gradual adjustment is more likely, whether through smaller package sizes or a quiet price increase at the retail level. At the same time, manufacturers are exploring alternatives, though new supplier countries can hardly replicate the quality of Italian hazelnuts.
Paying a little more for Nutella?
The crisis reveals how vulnerable the system behind a seemingly everyday product truly is. Hazelnut cultivation, once a symbol of Italian agricultural culture and rural stability, is under enormous pressure. Without investment in modern irrigation, research, and the renewal of orchards, Italy risks losing part of its leading position on the European hazelnut market. Agricultural associations such as CIA – Agricoltori Italiani are already warning of a lasting structural shift. For consumers, this could mean that a jar of Nutella will soon cost a little more, not because of higher profit margins, but because the beloved spread requires increasingly expensive raw materials . If the trend continues, the hazelnut will transition from a taken-for-granted staple to a precious commodity.