Peanuts are processed worldwide in 4 main categories:

• Oil • Breakfast (peanut butter) • Raw material (whole, sliced, flour, crushed, etc.) • Snack (roasted, coated, seasoned, etc.)

Peanut shells are also used in animal feed production, soap, artificial coal, briquettes, chipboard, and as bedding in poultry farming.

Compared to global production, Turkey’s peanut output is limited, and most of it is consumed as roasted snacks. Osmaniye, the second-largest producer after Adana, is also the country’s trade center, handling 80%-90% of Turkey’s peanut trade.

Osmaniye has 350 small and large producers and 97 peanut processing facilities. Most only provide shelling, drying, and bulk roasting services. Only about 5 businesses package for retail sale.

One business produces peanut butter, and a few others make coated products (e.g., chocolate-covered). However, there is still significant potential to add value to peanuts in Osmaniye.

As currently produced, Osmaniye peanuts are not high value-added or competitive. Processing into products like peanut butter, oil, coated snacks, or shell-based items (e.g., briquettes) can unlock strong potential.

Processed peanut products usually require standardization of size, type, and seed. ... This issue was raised by local stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce, Korkut Ata University, and OSB officials.

Osmaniye dominates Turkey’s peanut marketing. Although quality and processing challenges exist, its economic value can’t be ignored. A full value chain analysis is needed to understand and enhance sector potential.