Turkish Dried Apricots Edge Higher as Buyers Rebuild Cover

Turkish dried apricot prices are edging higher across key sizes, with modest week‑on‑week gains reflecting steady export demand and still‑tight stocks after last season’s weather‑affected crop. The tone is firm rather than explosive, but buyers see limited downside into the new marketing year. European FCA offers for Turkish dried apricots in the Netherlands and Poland have been ticking up gradually through July, confirming a mildly bullish trend as importers rebuild positions ahead of autumn demand. In Türkiye, FOB levels for both sulphured and unsulphured material have been broadly stable in recent weeks, suggesting exporters are trying to hold price ideas despite the weaker lira and competitive pressure from other origins. Against this backdrop, hot and dry conditions in Malatya support good drying progress but keep attention on orchard stress and size distribution, encouraging cautious forward buying rather than aggressive short‑covering.

Prices

Spot FCA Dordrecht prices for conventional Turkish dried apricots are firm across the size range, with current indicative levels around EUR 5.95–7.00/kg for sizes 8–0, up roughly EUR 0.10–0.15/kg versus mid‑July. Cubes around 8–10 mm are also firmer, reflecting improved snack and cereal demand in the EU.

FOB Türkiye prices for both sulphured and unsulphured Malatya‑origin fruit have held broadly steady in late July, as exporters prioritize margin protection following a previously frost‑damaged crop and constrained carry‑in stocks. Earlier 2026 industry commentary already highlighted structurally tight supply and elevated price levels after the 2025 frost in Malatya, a trend that continues to underpin today’s market tone.

Supply & Demand

Türkiye remains the dominant force in global dried apricots, supplying the bulk of world trade, with Malatya alone accounting for the majority of dried apricot output and exports. Recent European trade data continue to show the EU and UK as core destinations for Turkish dried fruits, with Turkey treated as a strategic supplier in the wider agri‑food relationship.

Industry reports earlier in 2026 pointed to a smaller carry‑over from the 2025 crop after frost damage in Malatya, leaving exporters with limited buffer stocks into the current season. This structural tightness, together with steady offtake from EU buyers and a weak Turkish lira, helps explain why FOB levels are being defended and why EU FCA prices react quickly to any incremental buying interest.

Weather & Crop Conditions (Region: TR)

For key producing areas around Malatya in eastern Türkiye, recent and short‑term forecasts indicate seasonally hot, dry summer conditions, with daytime highs mostly in the low‑to‑mid 30s °C and limited rainfall. Such a pattern is generally favorable for sun‑drying and moisture management, allowing processors to keep product moving through the system without major quality downgrades.

While prolonged heat can stress trees if soil moisture is not managed, current forecasts do not point to extreme heat spikes or significant rain events that would threaten near‑term fruit quality. Overall, weather is a supportive rather than disruptive factor for dried apricot availability in the very short run, reinforcing the current stable‑to‑firm pricing environment.

Fundamentals & FX

On the macro side, the Turkish lira continues to trade weakly against the euro in mid‑2026, keeping domestic costs comparatively low in EUR terms and supporting export competitiveness for dried fruit processors. Market commentary and recent exchange‑rate prints illustrate a lira that has depreciated substantially versus the euro over recent years, a trend that offsets some local cost inflation but encourages exporters to seek higher hard‑currency returns.

Export infrastructure and logistics from Türkiye to Europe remain broadly smooth, with Turkish suppliers actively marketing fresh and dried produce into more than 40 countries. For dried apricots, this means that once price levels are accepted, physical execution is rarely the bottleneck; instead, negotiation focuses on quality parameters (size, sulphur content, organic status) and shipment timing into EU ports and distribution hubs.

Trading Outlook & 3‑Day Price Indication

Trading outlook (next 2–4 weeks)

• Bias is mildly bullish: limited stocks after last year’s frost and hot, drying‑friendly weather argue against meaningful price corrections near term.
• EU buyers still uncovered for Q4 retail and industrial programs should consider layering in additional volume on any small dips, especially for larger sizes (0–3) and unsulphured grades.
• Short‑term downside risk is mainly FX‑driven (a sudden lira rebound), while upside risk stems from any negative news on 2026/27 crop size or quality in Malatya.

3‑day regional price indication (EUR, directional)

• Türkiye FOB (Malatya/Ankara): Conventional sulphured and unsulphured main sizes expected broadly stable around current indications ≈ EUR 7.8–8.7/kg; tone slightly firm as exporters test higher offers but face buyer resistance.
• EU Northwest (NL FCA Dordrecht): Prices for sizes 8–0 and cubes likely to hold or edge another EUR 0.05/kg higher if buying interest persists, especially for prompt shipment lots.
• Central Europe (PL FCA Lodz, smaller volumes): No major change expected; quotations for value‑oriented sizes such as no. 8 likely to track Dutch levels with a mild upward bias.