Apricot Market Steady as New Turkish Harvest Begins Under Weather Shadow

Prices for fresh and dried apricots remain broadly stable as the Turkish harvest gets underway, with uncertainty over final yields and regional disruptions keeping medium‑term direction open. The apricot harvest has started in key Turkish regions, and early varieties are already reaching local markets. Warmer weather should allow completion of the fresh harvest by early July, but heavy rains and hail have delayed final crop assessments until the end of June. In dried apricots, some exporters who had relocated processing to Iran are struggling due to the ongoing war, while expectations for Turkish supply are improving. For now, the market has not normalized and prices are trading close to previous weeks.

Prices & Current Market Tone

FOB Turkey prices for standard dried apricots are largely unchanged week on week. Conventional unsulphured grades from Malatya are indicated around EUR 7.8–8.6/kg depending on size, while organic equivalents are quoted in the EUR 9.3–10.4/kg range. Sulphured types (2,000 ppm) trade slightly below unsulphured product, mostly between EUR 7.3–8.7/kg, with only marginal adjustments over recent weeks.

In Europe, Turkish dried apricot cubes delivered FCA Netherlands are stable as well, generally around EUR 5.5–6.4/kg for standard cubes and about EUR 3.25/kg for 8–10 mm pieces. The flat price pattern is consistent with the still‑uncertain harvest outlook and a market that has yet to return to a clear directional trend.

Supply, Weather & Structural Factors

The new crop is progressing: some fresh apricot varieties are already ripe and present in local markets, and all fruit is expected to be harvested by early July, assuming temperatures remain seasonally warm. Recent weather in Malatya has turned more favourable, with predominantly sunny conditions and highs around 27–31°C over the coming week, supporting ripening and fieldwork after earlier heavy rains and hail episodes.

However, the impact of those earlier storms on total yields and quality will only be quantified once harvest figures are finalized at the end of June. This assessment will be decisive for dried apricot availability in the 2026/27 marketing year. At the same time, exporters that had shifted part of their processing to Iran—seeking to escape previous low Turkish yields and high prices—now face operational and logistical difficulties due to the ongoing war, which may redirect additional demand back to Turkish origin.

Fundamentals & Demand Signals

The combination of uncertain final crop size and constrained alternative origins underpins the current price stability. Buyers remain cautious, avoiding large forward commitments until more reliable production numbers are published. Existing spot demand is steady but not aggressive, which explains why quoted levels for both sulphured and unsulphured dried apricots are almost identical to those seen in previous weeks.

On the supply side, the sector aims for Turkish apricots to “reach the desired figures” this year, hinting at expectations of a rebound from earlier low‑yield seasons. How far this ambition is met, and how competing dried fruit markets behave, will largely determine price direction into late summer and autumn. Until then, fundamentals argue for a narrow trading range with a slight upward bias if weather turns adverse again or if war‑related disruptions intensify.

Short-Term Outlook & Trading Guidance

• For importers: Consider covering nearby physical needs at current levels, especially for key unsulphured sizes, as downside appears limited before final crop data are known.
• For packers/retailers: Maintain flexible pricing in consumer channels; the flat raw‑material market offers a window to lock in margins ahead of possible volatility in Q3.
• For producers/exporters: Avoid aggressive discounting before end‑June yield figures; focus on quality differentiation (organic, specific sizes) where premiums remain firm.

3‑Day Price Indication (Directional)