Turkish Dried Apricots: Flat FOB, Slight FCA Firming Ahead of New Crop

Turkish dried apricot prices are broadly steady on FOB basis in Malatya and Ankara, while European FCA bids are edging slightly higher as buyers position for the 2026 crop and limited old-crop stocks. With sunshine-dominated weather in key growing regions and no immediate frost or rain risk, near‑term supply looks stable, but the structural tightness from earlier frost damage keeps a firm floor under prices. Exporters in Türkiye continue to work through low remaining stocks from previous crops while awaiting larger physical availability from the 2026 harvest. Warm, dry conditions in Malatya and Ankara support drying and quality, and exporters report healthy global demand from Europe and other destinations for both sulphured and natural product. Against this backdrop, buyers are cautiously extending coverage, while sellers show little urgency to discount, expecting that structurally reduced tree numbers will cap any significant price correction.

Prices

Recent transactional indications for Turkish dried apricots show a sideways pattern on FOB terms in Türkiye, with unsulphured whole fruit in Malatya broadly unchanged in late June. European FCA quotes for Turkish origin in the Netherlands and Poland are modestly firmer compared with mid‑month levels, reflecting freight, financing and low nearby availability rather than a clear shift in Turkish packer offers.

Supply & Demand

Malatya remains the dominant origin for dried apricots, providing the bulk of Türkiye’s production and around two‑thirds of global dried output in normal years. Export data for dried fruits as a group show robust performance in 2026 to date, with Turkish dried fruit exports from January to 23 June exceeding EUR 115 million equivalent, confirming solid international demand.

Market intelligence indicates that old‑crop apricot stocks are effectively sold out, with negligible carryover into the new season, after severe frost losses in 2025 slashed production and exports. Buyers are now focused on securing early coverage from the 2026 crop, while exporters in Malatya and other hubs emphasize their ability to ship both sulphured and natural product to more than 50 countries, under EU‑aligned quality standards.

Fundamentals

Global statistics confirm Türkiye’s leading role in apricots, accounting for over one‑quarter of world fresh apricot output and a major share of dried apricot exports, with export unit values for apricots (all forms) recently around USD 1.6/kg. A structural driver for current firmness is the reduced orchard base after the 2025 frost episode, with some trees already removed and others showing lasting damage, which limits recovery potential in 2026 and beyond.

On the demand side, Europe remains the core market for Turkish dried apricots, supported by stable consumption of dried fruit ingredients in retail and foodservice, and by tight quality regulations that favor established Turkish processors. The broader dried fruit category continues to grow globally, and exporters highlight strong B2B interest in both bulk and value‑added formats, which helps keep pricing resilient despite higher absolute levels compared with pre‑frost seasons.

Weather & Crop Outlook (Malatya, Ankara)

The short‑term weather outlook for Malatya (26–28 June) is dominated by clear skies and strong sunshine, with daytime highs around 29–32°C and cool nights. These conditions are highly favorable for drying operations and maintaining fruit quality, with no rain or frost risk in the forecast window. Ankara shows a similar pattern of warm, mostly sunny weather with highs near 29–31°C, again supporting post‑harvest handling and logistics.

Given the already constrained structural supply from previous frost damage and low carryover, this benign short‑term weather removes immediate downside risks linked to drying delays or quality problems. The main medium‑term risk factor remains tree health and next season’s bloom rather than any near‑term climatic shock.

Trading Outlook (next 1–2 weeks)

• Buyers (importers/packers): Consider covering at least Q3 needs at current Malatya FOB levels, as the combination of minimal carryover and steady European demand is likely to prevent any meaningful near‑term price correction.
• Industrial users: For FCA positions in the EU (e.g. Dordrecht, Lodz), expect modest firmness driven by logistics and financing costs; stagger purchases but avoid being fully spot‑exposed.
• Sellers (exporters/growers): With favorable weather and tight stocks, there is no strong incentive to discount. Maintaining offers close to current ranges appears justified unless a sudden demand slowdown emerges.

3‑Day Regional Price Indication (Direction)

• Malatya FOB dried apricots (all grades, EUR/kg): Sideways to slightly firm through 29 June, supported by tight old‑crop availability and stable export demand.
• Ankara FOB sulphured apricots (EUR/kg): Mostly stable, tracking Malatya levels with a slight upward bias on nearby shipments.
• EU (NL, PL) FCA Turkish dried apricots (EUR/kg): Mildly firmer tone expected as buyers rebuild stocks ahead of broader 2026 crop arrivals.