Stable Turkish Dried Fig Prices as Spanish Fresh Demand Accelerates

Turkish dried fig prices are holding steady in mid-June, with no significant week-on-week moves, while fresh fig demand in Spain is set to rise as retailers expand sourcing. The near-term market looks balanced: firm but not rallying, supported by solid export interest and seasonally improving fresh fig availability. Spanish retailers are preparing for a larger 2026 fresh fig and breva campaign, led by Mercadona’s plan to buy 1,800 tonnes from Alicante suppliers—16% more than last year—signalling healthy downstream demand in Iberia. At the same time, Turkey remains the dominant dried fig exporter to Europe, and recent trade data confirm continued strength in fig-related fruit and nut exports. Price indications from Malatya show a flat curve across all calibrated sizes, suggesting that exporters are cautious but not under pressure to discount. Fresh demand in Spain is rising into summer, but this has not yet translated into tighter dried fig availability.

Prices & Spreads

FOB Malatya quotations for conventional Turkish dried figs (natural and Lerida types, sizes 1–7) are unchanged compared with mid-May, indicating a stable market with no visible tightening. The premium for larger natural sizes over smaller Lerida grades remains modest, reflecting comfortable supply across the size spectrum.

(Prices converted from recent USD offers into EUR at ~1.05 USD/EUR for comparability.)

Supply & Demand Pulse (TR & ES)

Turkey remains a highly export-oriented dried fig origin, shipping roughly 70,000 tonnes annually to more than 100 countries, with the EU as the main destination. Recent trade statistics show continued growth in Turkish exports of dates and figs to European markets, underlining stable external demand into 2026. Exporters are described as cautious due to past border rejections over mycotoxin issues, which has encouraged strict quality control but has not yet forced prices higher.

In Spain, downstream demand signals are constructive. Mercadona’s plan to purchase 1,800 tonnes of fresh brevas and figs from Alicante—up 16% year on year and marketed across Spain and Portugal—suggests robust retailer confidence in fig consumption. While these volumes relate to fresh product, they point to resilient overall fig demand in Iberia, supporting import needs for dried figs, especially outside the domestic harvest window.

Weather & Crop Conditions (ES, TR)

For Spain (ES), national forecasts point to early-summer heat building again from mid-June, with July-like temperatures expected across much of the country. For fig orchards in eastern and southern Spain (Alicante, Extremadura), this pattern generally favours ripening and sugar accumulation provided irrigation is sufficient, and no major heatwaves or storms are currently highlighted for the coming days.

For Turkey (TR), no major weather disruptions have been reported in the last three days in leading fig regions such as Aydın and surrounding western provinces. The broader Turkish fruit sector is reporting solid export performance in May, with fresh fruit and vegetable exports reaching USD 322 million, signalling normal logistics and harvest flows. Combined with prior official projections of higher overall fruit output for 2026, this supports expectations of adequate raw material availability for drying later in the season.

Market Drivers & Risks

• Steady export pipeline: Turkish dried figs continue to dominate EU imports, with no evidence of a sudden shift in trade flows as of mid-June 2026.
• Food safety vigilance: Recent reports of EU border rejections over aflatoxin and ochratoxin have made exporters more selective, which may cap downside but also limit aggressive sales.
• Firm Iberian retail demand: Larger Spanish retail programs for fresh figs (e.g., Mercadona’s 16% volume increase) underline strong consumer demand for fig formats overall.
• Macro and FX: A relatively weak Turkish lira against the euro helps keep FOB prices competitive in EUR terms, indirectly stabilising quotations despite domestic inflationary pressure (inferred from recent Turkish export data and macro trends).

Trading Outlook (Next 1–2 Weeks)

• Buy-side (importers, packers in EU): Current flat prices and good availability favour short- to medium-term coverage. Consider securing Q3–Q4 needs on larger natural sizes if quality specifications are tight, as stricter mycotoxin screening can reduce effective supply.
• Sell-side (Turkish exporters): With stable demand and manageable stocks, there is little justification for discounting below current levels. Focus on quality differentiation and certification to protect premiums, particularly into the EU.
• Industry users (confectionery, bakery): With no immediate weather or supply shock in sight, the risk of a near-term price spike appears limited. Staggered purchases remain appropriate, but opportunistic forward coverage is reasonable if EUR weakens versus USD or TRY.

3‑Day Regional Price Indications (Directional)

• Turkey (TR, FOB Malatya): Dried fig prices for both natural and Lerida types are expected to remain stable over the next three days, with narrow bid–offer spreads and limited new-crop news.
• Spain (ES, CIF main ports): Import parity for Turkish dried figs into Spain should also remain flat in EUR terms through the next three days, with freight and FX relatively unchanged and fresh fig seasonality already priced in.