Firm Turkish dried fig market as new Aydın season nears

Turkish dried fig prices are holding firm into mid‑September, with FOB offers from İzmir and Malatya broadly steady and Spain trading at a small premium. Nearby supply is tight ahead of large‑scale new‑crop arrivals, while exporters show little willingness to discount given strong forward interest and elevated opening bids in the Aydın growing region. The market tone is broadly sideways‑to‑firm. Turkey, which accounts for roughly half of world dried fig output and the bulk of exports, is preparing for the 2026/27 export campaign, with official figures pointing to robust dried fruit shipments so far this year. Spain’s Extremadura region is in the middle of an intense harvest window for both fresh and drying figs, but no major oversupply signals are visible yet. Warm, dry weather in both origins is supporting drying quality rather than pressuring prices.

Prices

FOB offers for Turkish dried figs ex İzmir and Malatya are stable compared with early September, with organic premium categories maintaining clear differentials over conventional grades. Domestic export data from Turkey’s dried fruit exporters’ association show strong year‑to‑date dried fruit shipments, underlining ongoing external demand support for figs alongside other products.

Spain’s organic dried figs continue to price slightly above mid‑range Turkish offers on a FOB basis as European buyers pay a regional and organic premium. Local cooperative notices in Extremadura confirm active intake of both fresh and drying figs this week, but there are no indications of aggressive selling pressure to date.

Supply & Demand

Turkey remains the key driver of global dried fig balance, supplying around half of world production and nearly three‑quarters of exports in recent years. Recent international assessments project higher Turkish output for 2025/26 compared with the previous season, implying comfortable medium‑term availability, although short‑term physical supply is still constrained by the timing of the new Aydın crop.

The new 2026/27 Turkish dried fig export season from Aydın is scheduled to open in mid‑September, with trade reports indicating very high first bids and no clear price concessions yet on Lerida grades. Exporters in İzmir and Malatya are reported to be quoting cautiously, preferring to watch early shipment demand rather than fill positions aggressively, which supports the current flat‑to‑firm price structure.

In Spain, Extremadura and other western regions are in peak harvest for both table and drying figs. Local cooperatives are actively collecting dried figs and fresh figs for processing this week, but broader agricultural commentary from the region emphasises pressure from lower yields and profitability in several crops rather than a surplus. This environment reduces the likelihood of distressed fig selling that could weigh heavily on prices.

Weather & Crop Conditions (ES, TR)

Weather conditions in Turkey’s main dried fig belt around Aydın and İzmir remain seasonally hot and mostly dry, creating favourable conditions for late drying and reducing disease risk. Market commentaries note that the absence of significant rainfall in early September is helping to stabilise quality and supports exporters’ reluctance to discount ahead of firm new‑season offers.

In Spain’s Extremadura region, recent days have been warm and largely dry as well, enabling intensive harvest and drying operations for local cultivars used in both fresh and dried markets. Agricultural agencies in the region continue to present a generally positive outlook for specialty crops, even if farm organisations warn of broader sectoral challenges, meaning weather is currently a supportive, not bearish, factor for fig prices.

Fundamentals & Trade Flows

Fresh data from Turkey’s dried fruits exporters highlight solid export performance in early September, with dried fruits and products (including figs) reaching more than EUR 7 million equivalent in shipments in just the first eight days of the month and nearly EUR 250 million over the last 12 months. This underpins a constructive demand backdrop for Turkish dried figs in key European and Middle Eastern destinations.

Medium‑term structural analysis of the European dried fig market shows Turkey’s share of EU imports has eased slightly since 2020 as Spain, Greece and Italy expand their niche origins, especially in organic and regional‑label segments. However, forecasts for 2025/26 still see a sizeable increase in Turkish production, and Spain’s total dried fig output remains comparatively small, meaning Turkish prices will continue to anchor the global and European price complex.

Trading Outlook & 3‑Day Price View

• Buyers (EU packers, importers): Consider covering short‑term needs now while prices are stable and before full visibility on new‑crop quality and export pace in Turkey emerges. Focus on securing desired grades (Lerida No.4, organic cubes) rather than chasing minimal price improvements.
• Sellers (TR exporters, ES cooperatives): Current fundamentals support holding offers steady over the coming week, especially for higher‑quality and organic lots. Limited immediate supply pressure and strong dried‑fruit export data argue against early discounting.
• Industrial users: For longer‑dated coverage, consider a staggered purchasing strategy through Q4 2026, as projected higher Turkish production could eventually cap further upside once harvest and drying are fully completed.

3‑day directional outlook (in EUR, FOB):

• Turkey (İzmir, Malatya): Sideways to slightly firm. Organic and premium Lerida grades expected to hold or edge up by up to 1–2% as new‑season offers consolidate.
• Spain (Extremadura / Madrid): Sideways. Active harvest intake but no clear oversupply; organic "Spanish Gold" figs likely to remain at a modest premium over mid‑range Turkish offers.