Dried apricots from Turkey: firm prices, weather-friendly outlook
Concise dried apricot market update: Turkish FOB and EU FCA prices, Malatya weather outlook, supply-demand drivers and 3-day price indications.
Prices & Spreads
Latest quoted levels (all converted to EUR/kg) show:
- FCA Poland (Lodz), sulphured size 8: about EUR 5.20/kg, slightly above previous posting.
- FCA Netherlands (Dordrecht), sulphured sizes 8–0: roughly EUR 5.5–6.4/kg, flat over the last week.
- FOB Malatya/Ankara, sulphured sizes 8–1: around EUR 7.3–8.7/kg equivalent, stable versus late May.
- FOB Malatya unsulphured: about EUR 7.8–8.6/kg for conventional, EUR 9.3–10.35/kg for organic.
The stable FOB structure and narrow FCA spreads indicate balanced nearby demand and no aggressive origin selling pressure into Europe, which remains Turkey’s primary outlet for dried apricots.
Supply, Demand & Weather
Turkey remains the clear price-setter in dried apricots, supplying about 70–85% of world volumes, with Malatya alone accounting for the bulk of global dried output. Modern plants in Malatya’s industrial zones have sizeable cold storage and year‑round shipping capability, underpinning reliable export flows even outside harvest months.
For mid‑June, Malatya’s 3‑day forecast points to warm, dry and sunny conditions with daytime highs near 30–32°C and cool nights. This is supportive for late fruit development and drying logistics, with no current signal of frost, hail or excessive rain pressure. In the absence of weather stress, growers and packers show little incentive to discount forward crop.
On the demand side, Europe remains the largest destination for Turkish dried apricots, with regular container services from Turkish ports to major EU hubs. Retail and foodservice demand for dried fruit snacks and ingredients in Europe is described as steady, and interest in organic and sulphite‑free products continues to rise in broader dried fruit segments, which supports the sustained premium for unsulphured and organic apricots.
Fundamentals & Market Tone
Recent industry and investment documentation underlines that Malatya’s dried apricot sector has scaled up significantly, with export value roughly tripling over the last 15 years, and processing capacity expanded via modern plants. This structural strength limits the risk of abrupt supply squeezes, barring severe weather events.
At the same time, global dried apricot production for 2025/26 is projected to remain relatively tight but manageable, with limited carry‑over stocks and solid demand – a configuration that tends to keep prices firm rather than volatile. Combined with a weak local currency environment, Turkish exporters can maintain competitive EUR prices while preserving TRY margins, reinforcing today’s sideways‑to‑firm tone in export offers.
Short-Term Outlook & Trading Ideas
- Price direction (1–2 weeks): Sideways to mildly firmer, especially for clean, large calibers and unsulphured/organic product.
- Buyers in EU: Consider covering Q3 needs now for key grades around EUR 5.2–5.6/kg FCA for standard sulphured and EUR 7.8–8.0/kg FOB for unsulphured, as current levels fairly balance origin strength and consumer demand.
- Turkish packers/exporters: With favorable weather and stable inquiries, there is room to hold offers; only second‑tier sizes or slow‑moving specs may warrant selective discounts.
- Risk focus: Monitor late‑June/July weather in Malatya and macro demand signals from core EU markets; any weather scare or stronger snack demand could quickly lift offers by EUR 0.20–0.40/kg.
3-Day Regional Price Indication (Directional)
- FOB Malatya/Ankara, TR: Stable to slightly firmer; tightness seen first in large sizes and organic unsulphured.
- FCA Poland (Lodz): Stable; recent small uptick likely to hold as replacement costs from Turkey remain firm.
- FCA Netherlands (Dordrecht): Largely flat across the size curve; mild upward bias if EU demand improves or freight tightens.