Identifying target export countries through network analysis: the case of Turkish hazelnut export

This study investigates Türkiye's hazelnut export network to identify target export countries and evaluate whether they are probable targets for the hazelnut market. The research is based on network theory and examines Türkiye by the cooccurrences of exports to 121 countries from 41 provinces of Türkiye. The results show that the USA, the UK, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel are in central positions in Türkiye's hazelnut network. After evaluating the results at the country level, the findings suggest that these countries are potential targets for expanding the hazelnut exports of Türkiye. The research, revealing the issue in Türkiye, the leader in hazelnut production and exports, highlights for the policymakers the importance of handling the issue from a network perspective in trade decisions, enlightening them about its significance in shaping a new sustainable world trade order.