Turkish Dried Apricots Hold Steady as Market Watches Weather and Demand

Turkish dried apricot prices are broadly stable this week, with only minor easing in some unsulphured grades and no clear push from weather or export news to break the current range. The market remains well supported after last year’s frost-related supply squeeze, but near-term trading is subdued as buyers wait for clearer signals on the 2026 crop and global demand.

In Türkiye, FOB Malatya and Ankara quotations for sulphured and unsulphured apricots are essentially flat compared with mid-March, consolidating after earlier increases driven by tight supply and higher export unit values in 2025. Weather in key production regions is seasonally cool and showery but not extreme, so attention is shifting from immediate frost risk to medium-term bloom and fruit set. With no fresh shocks on the export side in the last few days, short-term prices are likely to track within a narrow band, with premiums for organic and higher calibers firmly intact.

📈 Prices

FOB dried apricot prices in Türkiye on 24 March 2026, converted to EUR, indicate a broadly sideways market versus one and two weeks earlier. Using an indicative rate of 1.00 USD = 0.92 EUR for export parity, current Malatya quotations cluster in the EUR 5.80–9.50/kg band depending on grade and treatment.

Product (TR origin)	Location / Terms	Latest price (EUR/kg)	1-week change
Dried apricots no. 1, sulphured	Malatya, FOB	≈ 8.00	Stable
Dried apricots no. 1, unsulphured	Malatya, FOB	≈ 7.90	Stable
Dried apricots no. 2, unsulphured	Malatya, FOB	≈ 8.00–8.20	Stable
Dried apricots no. 5, unsulphured	Malatya, FOB	≈ 7.20–7.30	Marginally softer vs. mid-March
Dried apricots, organic (nos. 1–4)	Malatya/Ankara, FOB	≈ 9.00–9.60	Stable

European FCA prices for Turkish-origin dried apricot cubes in the Netherlands and Poland continue to show a clear discount to whole fruit, trading mostly between EUR 5.00–6.20/kg depending on cut size, with no meaningful changes in the last week.

🌍 Supply & Demand

Türkiye remains the dominant global supplier of dried apricots, accounting for around half of world output in recent seasons. Malatya alone produces about half of Türkiye’s apricots, with roughly 90% of that tonnage traditionally destined for sun-drying.

Last year’s severe frost in April 2025 cut the Malatya apricot harvest sharply, with local estimates pointing to more than 40% crop loss. The resulting squeeze on physical availability is still reflected in higher export unit values: dried apricot export prices from Türkiye in August 2025 were reported around 7.43 USD/kg, up nearly 47% year-on-year. While cumulative January–August 2025 exports fell about 15% by volume, average unit values remained elevated versus historical norms, effectively underpinning today’s FOB offers.

On the demand side, Turkey’s overall agri-food exports are structurally strong, with dried fruits an important component of the country’s high value-added export basket. Niche demand in key consumer markets (e.g., North American retailers promoting Turkish apricots in branded snack formats) remains supportive, even if such volumes are small relative to bulk trade. There are no fresh signs in the last three days of major disruptions in trade flows or policy that would immediately affect dried apricot shipments.

📊 Fundamentals & Weather

Weather in Malatya and Ankara over 25–27 March 2026 is seasonally cool with scattered showers, daytime highs mostly in the 11–18°C range and overnight lows around 2–5°C. These conditions are typical for late March and, crucially, keep minimum temperatures above the hard frost threshold, reducing immediate concern for bloom damage in early-flowering orchards.

Given last season’s frost losses and the structural importance of apricot production for Malatya’s economy, growers remain highly sensitive to any cold snaps during flowering. However, no acute cold wave is indicated in the current 3-day outlook. The fundamental balance therefore remains tight but not worsening: on-farm inventories are limited after a short crop, yet there is no new weather shock to justify a fresh price spike in the very near term.

📆 Short-Term Price Outlook (3 days, TR)

• Malatya FOB, whole dried apricots (sulphured & unsulphured): Sideways to slightly firm in EUR terms as exporters defend offers and watch the weather; spot deals likely to clear within current bands.
• Organic grades (Malatya/Ankara): Stable with a persistent premium of roughly EUR 1.00–1.50/kg over conventional; no sign of easing given limited certified supply.
• Processed cubes (EU FCA): Largely unchanged; modest buyer interest and stable raw material costs point to a flat 3-day trajectory.

📌 Trading Recommendations

• Importers / industrial users: Consider covering short- to medium-term needs at current levels; the downside appears limited while a late frost or stronger demand pulse could quickly tighten the balance.
• Packers and exporters in Türkiye: Maintain offer discipline, especially on higher calibers and organic lots, but be prepared for small tactical discounts on lower grades to stimulate nearby demand if international buying remains slow.
• Speculative buyers: With prices consolidating after last year’s rally and weather risk still ahead of full bloom, a cautiously bullish stance is warranted, but positions should be sized with the possibility of a normal 2026 crop in mind.