Turkish dried apricot prices are broadly steady on FOB Malatya while EU-side cube quotations are ticking higher, with no fresh supply shock from weather in the core growing region over the coming three days.
The dried apricot market into early April remains underpinned by structurally tight Turkish supply after previous frost damage in Malatya, but the very short‑term picture is calm. Weather in Malatya is mild with only some rain expected on April 2, posing no immediate threat to orchards or logistics. On the demand side, stable dried fruit usage and firm export interest for Turkish-origin product keep prices supported even as some grades show minor week‑on‑week adjustments. With no new policy or export interventions reported in the last three days, near-term pricing is mainly a function of existing tight stocks and routine pre‑season contracting.
Exclusive Offers on CMBroker
Apricots dried
no:8, TR-1123
99,97%
FCA 5.15 €/kg
(from PL)
Apricots dried
Cubes, no - 8
FCA 5.52 €/kg
(from NL)
Apricots dried
Cubes, no - 6
FCA 5.95 €/kg
(from NL)
📈 Prices & recent moves
All prices below are indicative and expressed in EUR/kg, converted from current commercial offers.
| Product | Location / Term | Latest price (EUR/kg) | Δ vs previous quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried apricots no.8, TR‑1123 (industrial) | PL Lodz, FCA | ≈5.15 | ↓ ~2% from 5.25 |
| Dried apricot cubes no.8 | NL Dordrecht, FCA | ≈5.52 | ↑ ~1% |
| Dried apricot cubes no.0–1 | NL Dordrecht, FCA | ≈6.35–6.45 | ↑ ~0.10 EUR/kg |
| Unsulphured whole no.3–5 | TR Malatya/Ankara, FOB | ≈7.8–8.0 | Flat w/w |
| Sulphured whole no.1–4 | TR Malatya/Ankara, FOB | ≈7.5–8.7 | Flat w/w |
EU warehouse cube prices in the Netherlands are showing a modest firming bias, while Polish FCA quotes for industrial no.8 material have eased slightly from last week’s high. Turkish FOB quotations for both sulphured and unsulphured whole fruit are largely unchanged compared with mid‑March, indicating a consolidation phase rather than a new leg higher.
🌍 Supply, demand & context
Malatya remains the dominant hub for Turkish dried apricots, accounting for the bulk of national dried output and exports. Current commercial commentary still describes the 2024/25 and 2025 seasons as constrained by earlier frost‑related production losses, which left exporters with tight stocks entering 2026.
Global demand for dried fruits continues to grow steadily, supported by snacking and ingredients use, with recent market analysis highlighting dried fruit as a structurally expanding category. Turkish suppliers, many clustered around Malatya and western packing hubs, are actively marketing both traditional whole fruit and diced/cube formats for bakery and cereal applications. This underpins EU warehouse prices even when near‑term buying is selective.
⛅ Weather outlook – TR (Malatya)
Weather in Malatya over March 31–April 2 is seasonally mild and mostly dry: highs around 11–15°C on March 31–April 1 with sunshine and partial cloud, cooling slightly with some morning rain on April 2. Night-time lows stay safely above freezing at 4–8°C.
These conditions are benign for orchard development and should not disrupt processing or transport. Given that the key frost‑risk window appears to be passing without new severe cold events, no additional weather‑driven tightening of 2026/27 supply is expected in the very short term.
📊 Fundamentals & market tone
- Stocks: Trade reports from Q1 2026 still describe low carry‑in stocks after previous frost‑hit harvests, keeping exporters cautious in forward sales.
- Demand: Industrial users in the EU maintain baseline coverage for bakery, snack and cereal lines, while more discretionary demand remains price‑sensitive.
- Competition: Other dried fruit origins are active, but Malatya‑origin Turkish apricots retain a quality and branding premium in many markets.
- Macro: No fresh Turkish policy moves or export restrictions on dried apricots have been reported in the last three days; regional food export headlines have focused on other origins and product groups.
Overall, the tone is described as firm but not panicked: sellers are resisting meaningful discounts, yet the lack of immediate weather or policy shocks is preventing another sharp leg up in prices for now.
📆 Trading outlook & 3‑day price view
- For buyers (importers, packers): Use the current sideways phase to top up short‑term needs, especially for higher‑value cubes and larger sizes, while avoiding over‑coverage given already elevated historical levels.
- For Turkish exporters: Maintain offer discipline on tight grades (large unsulphured and premium organic), but consider small tactical discounts on industrial and cube cuts to secure EU contracts before summer demand.
- For industrial users: Where possible, build some flexibility between sulphured and unsulphured specifications; sulphured whole fruit looks slightly better value relative to unsulphured equivalents.
3‑day directional outlook (EUR basis):
- FOB Malatya/Ankara (whole, TR origin): Stable; ±0–0.5% expected through April 2 with no new weather or policy drivers.
- FCA NL Dordrecht (cubes, TR origin): Slightly firm; potential uptick of ~0.5% as EU buyers lock in coverage and suppliers test higher offers.
- FCA PL Lodz (industrial no.8, TR origin): Slightly soft to stable; recent minor easing could see some additional discounting if nearby demand stays muted.
