Tariș price signal steadies Turkish dried fig market

Tariș’s long-awaited procurement prices for the 2026/27 crop have now been published, anchoring producer sentiment in Aydın and helping to stabilise export quotations for Turkish dried figs. The widely traded A4 grade was set at 200 TL/kg, with a full quality scale from 30 TL to 250 TL/kg now providing a clear benchmark for the domestic market. The price announcement ends weeks of uncertainty in the main producing region, where exporters had been slow to commit to volume and growers were holding stock. With the export season officially under way and early overseas demand described as solid, the new Tariș schedule is likely to cap downside on raw material while limiting any aggressive short-term rally, especially in view of a larger Turkish crop estimate and seasonally mild, dry weather in Aydın that favours drying and logistics.

Prices

Tariș has published a differentiated procurement scale for dried figs in Aydın, with prices ranging from 30 TL/kg for the lowest grades up to 250 TL/kg for the top A1 quality (36–40 figs/kg). The key producer benchmark A4 quality (51–55 figs/kg) has been fixed at 200 TL/kg, while mid‑range grades step down in 20 TL increments.

FOB export quotations in Türkiye are broadly stable to slightly firmer compared with early October. Organic dried figs “Mini” FOB İzmir are indicated at 16.15 EUR, organic Lerida No. 4 at 14.9 EUR, and organic Protoben No. 4/5 at 15.65 EUR FOB İzmir. Conventional chopped whole No. 8/9 from İzmir is quoted around 10.8 EUR FOB, while Malatya natural No. 4–6 grades remain in a 7.8–8.8 EUR FOB range.

Supply & Demand

In Aydın, a core fig region, Tariș’s cooperative leadership has now formalised the 2026/27 procurement schedule, ending the price vacuum that had prevailed since harvest began. Producers’ reactions are mixed: some welcome bids above recent free‑market levels, while others still deem them insufficient and continue to hold stocks in expectation of better prices.

Turkey remains the dominant supplier of dried figs to Europe, accounting for the overwhelming majority of extra‑EU imports and underpinning European dependence on Turkish supply. Early reports indicate that the 2026 Turkish fig crop is materially larger than last year, with some private estimates pointing to an increase of around one‑fifth, and official projections in the mid‑90,000 mt range. This higher availability should ease supply risks for importers, even as growers seek to defend margins against rising domestic costs.

On the demand side, the 2026/27 export season for Turkish dried figs opened at the end of September with a good initial shipping pace, exceeding the same week last year when exports were still drawing on the old crop. European buyers remain the key customers, and recent trade data confirm that the EU continues to run a structural trade deficit in dried figs, with imports far outweighing exports. This structural pull should absorb a significant share of the new Turkish crop, though buyers are likely to remain price‑sensitive after the high‑price environment of recent years.

Fundamentals & Weather

The Tariș price schedule effectively sets a floor under raw material values for the new crop and narrows the range of producer expectations. With export FOB prices moving only marginally in recent weeks and showing no sharp correction, the market currently appears balanced between improved supply and steady but disciplined demand. Processors will, however, monitor producer selling closely, as any concerted holding of higher grades could tighten availability later in the season.

Weather conditions in Aydın and the surrounding fig belt in mid‑October are seasonally mild, with daytime highs around the low 20s °C and cool, largely dry nights forecast for the coming days. This pattern is broadly favourable for late drying, sorting and transport, and no immediate weather‑related disruptions to supply chains are expected. With the bulk of the crop already harvested, weather risk for physical quality is now significantly reduced, keeping the focus squarely on pricing and logistics.

Outlook & Trading Recommendations

• Short‑term (next 2–4 weeks): With Tariș prices now public and the export season off to a good start, spot raw material and FOB prices are likely to remain firm within current ranges rather than break significantly lower. Buyers should not expect deep discounts on standard A4‑equivalent qualities.
• Importers / industrial users: Consider covering a portion of Q4–Q1 needs at current levels for key specifications such as organic Mini, organic Lerida No. 4 and Protoben No. 4/5, while keeping some flexibility for potential year‑end opportunities if producer selling increases.
• Exporters / packers in Türkiye: Use the Tariș A‑grade structure as a reference when negotiating with growers and overseas buyers, focusing on margin management between TL‑denominated procurement and EUR‑denominated sales. Given a larger crop, prioritise forward sales into core EU markets where demand is structurally strong.
• Risk factors to watch: Any renewed producer resistance to current Tariș prices, logistical bottlenecks, and shifts in European retail promotions for dried fruits, which could either stimulate or dampen off‑season demand.

3‑Day Directional Price View

• FOB İzmir (organic figs, main grades): Sideways to slightly firm, with current indications around 16.15 EUR (Mini), 15.65 EUR (Protoben No. 4/5) and 14.9 EUR (Lerida No. 4) FOB expected to hold.
• FOB Malatya (conventional natural & Lerida figs): Stable; most traded natural and Lerida grades are seen moving sideways around their recent 7.5–9.6 EUR FOB band.
• Producer‑level Aydın (Tariş A‑grades): Newly announced TL/kg levels should act as a reference floor; minor local adjustments are possible, but no sharp moves are anticipated in the immediate term.