Turkish Dried Apricots Ease as Sulphured FOB Resets, Organics Hold Premium

Turkish dried apricot FOB prices have edged lower in Malatya and Ankara as sellers adjust sulphured and unsulphured offers, while demand remains relatively quiet and growers still resist deeper cuts. The price reset is most visible in sulphured grades, with organic and unsulphured fruit keeping a firm premium and only moderate declines. Near‑term weather in Malatya and Ankara is seasonally cool and wet but has limited impact on already‑dried product, leaving the market driven mainly by export demand and seller behavior rather than crop risks. Malatya’s 2026 campaign continues to be characterized by a wide spread between industrial and premium jumbo/organic categories, and by subdued spot demand despite export volumes that have already exceeded last season’s early‑campaign levels. Processed material is now well in the pipeline; with no acute supply shock and only slowly improving buying interest, FOB prices are transitioning from the firm plateau of early autumn into a slightly softer, more negotiable band. Buyers are gaining some leverage on sulphured lines, while sellers keep a tighter line on natural and organic fruit.

Prices

Current Turkish dried apricot prices show a clear easing in sulphured grades and a milder correction in unsulphured and organic lines. This aligns with fresh reports that FOB Malatya quotations are softening as the local market stays quiet and buyers resist previous highs.

The table underlines a pronounced downward adjustment in sulphured numbers 1–8 compared with October indications, consistent with reports that sulphured prices have been resetting lower while remaining within historical export bands. Unsulphured and organic categories have also eased but maintain a sizeable differential over conventional sulphured fruit, in line with broader market benchmarks from Malatya’s price boards.

Supply & Demand

Supply fundamentals remain relatively comfortable after a healthier 2026 crop in Malatya and surrounding regions, following last year’s frost‑reduced harvest. Export data for August–September confirm shipments of around 10,300 mt with export earnings above USD 46 million, already surpassing the previous season’s early‑campaign volume.

Despite this solid export pace, demand is still described as subdued, particularly from European buyers who remain cautious and buy hand‑to‑mouth. Growers, however, are holding relatively firm at local TRY levels, especially for better grades, which limits how far FOB prices can fall even as exporters become more flexible in negotiations.

Weather & Logistics (TR)

Weather in Malatya over the next three days (November 5–7) is forecast to be cool with mixed sun, clouds and intermittent rain or drizzle, with highs around 12–16°C and lows down to 2–7°C. Ankara shows a similar pattern of mostly cloudy, chilly conditions with highs near 8–12°C and lows approaching 0–5°C.

As the 2026 dried apricot crop is already processed and in warehouses or transit, this weather has minimal impact on yield or quality. The main relevance is logistical: occasional rain may slightly disrupt on‑farm activities or short‑haul transport, but no significant bottlenecks are expected in export flows from Malatya and Ankara at present.

Fundamentals & Market Drivers

• Wide price dispersion: Market reports highlight a very wide spread between industrial and premium jumbo/organic apricots, with producer prices ranging roughly from TRY 50/kg for industrial to about TRY 320/kg for jumbo sizes, reinforcing strong internal differentials.
• Quiet but improving demand: Commentaries describe demand as weak but slightly improving, with expectations of stronger buying toward year‑end as European and other destination pipelines need replenishment.
• Sideways‑to‑softer price bias: Earlier notes anticipated broadly sideways sulphured prices; the latest data now show a mild easing in FOB Malatya/Ankara quotes, especially for lower calibres, in line with the quiet market.
• Export dominance: Turkey remains the leading global dried apricot exporter, with Malatya at the center of production and export logistics, so local pricing continues to set the tone for international markets.

3‑Day Trading Outlook (TR)

• Sulphured FOB Malatya/Ankara: Given the recent downward adjustment and still‑quiet demand, sulphured grades no. 4–8 are likely to trade in a slightly softer to sideways band over the next three days, with room for small buyer‑side gains in negotiations but no sign of a sharp break.
• Unsulphured & organic: These segments should remain relatively firm versus sulphured, but with a mild easing bias as exporters test lower offers to stimulate demand while growers resist steeper discounts.
• FCA Europe (reference from TR origin): Recent commentary pointed to softening FCA Europe prices; this trend is likely to persist short‑term, tracking the modest FOB easing and subdued European demand.

Trading Suggestions

• Importers / industrial buyers: Consider incrementally extending coverage in sulphured no. 6–8 around current FOB levels, using the present dip to secure near‑term needs while keeping some volume open for potential further softness.
• Retail‑oriented buyers: For branded packs emphasizing natural or organic attributes, maintain staggered purchases; the premium over sulphured remains justified by market structure, but current slight easing offers an opportunity to average down costs.
• Turkish exporters: In a quiet market with decent export pace, competitive pricing on mid‑range grades and flexible shipment terms may help unlock additional demand without undermining premium categories.

Near term, Turkish dried apricot prices in TR look set for a calm three days: sulphured FOB Malatya and Ankara trading slightly softer to sideways, unsulphured and organics holding firm premiums with gentle pressure, and FCA Europe indications continuing to edge lower in line with subdued destination demand.