Turkish Dried Apricots: Origin Prices Steady, Europe Softens

FOB Malatya dried apricot prices are broadly stable across sulphured and unsulphured grades, while FCA quotations in Europe show mild softening for smaller industrial sizes. Demand remains subdued despite export volumes running ahead of last year, keeping the market in a sideways consolidation rather than triggering any major correction. In Malatya and Ankara, Turkish origin dried apricots are trading in a tight range, with only marginal easing in a few organic and lower grades. Exporters still report good shipment flow, especially into European destinations, but purchasing is mostly hand-to-mouth as buyers wait for clearer direction. Mild, dry weather in Malatya in late October supports smooth post-harvest processing, reducing immediate quality or drying risks. With growers still confident after a smaller 2026 crop, buyers should not expect deep discounts in the very short term.

Prices

FOB Malatya prices for unsulphured dried apricots are steady, with premium sizes around the low EUR 8s and organic material near the low EUR 9s per kg (FOB). Sulphured 2000 ppm grades from Malatya and Ankara remain anchored in the mid-to-high EUR 5s to low EUR 7s per kg (FOB), showing no change versus the previous assessments.

In contrast, FCA European warehouse prices in the Netherlands and Poland for Turkish origin stock have eased slightly in recent weeks, particularly for size no. 8 and industrial cubes, reflecting softer local demand and some inventory overhang. This divergence confirms current market talk that FOB Malatya is holding firm while ex-Europe replacement costs edge lower for select sizes.

Supply & Demand

Turkey remains the dominant global supplier of dried apricots, with Malatya accounting for the bulk of world output. Recent industry updates indicate that Turkish exports of dried apricots this season are already significantly higher than last year, even though international demand is seen as weak and cautious.

The 2026 crop in Turkey is smaller than a normal year following frost, rainfall during flowering and hail damage, with production estimates around 75,000–80,000 mt and some loss of average quality. Despite this reduced supply, the absence of aggressive selling and the lack of large carryover stocks are allowing exporters to maintain current price ideas. Buyers in Europe are reportedly purchasing hand-to-mouth, but export volumes from Malatya continue at a healthy pace.

Weather & Quality Outlook (Malatya)

Weather conditions in Malatya around October 22, 2026 are mild and predominantly clear, with daytime highs near 20–21°C and cool nights around 4–11°C. Short-range forecasts for the next few days point to mostly dry or only briefly overcast conditions, with limited rainfall confined to one day and low wind speeds.

These stable autumn conditions are broadly favourable for warehouse operations and final processing of the 2026 dried apricot crop. With no immediate weather-related disruptions expected in Malatya, the near-term quality and logistical risk from origin weather appears low, reinforcing the current price stability on the FOB side.

Market Fundamentals

Recent trade statistics confirm Turkey’s strong export orientation, with dried apricot shipments under HS 081310 flowing steadily to European and regional markets including the Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia, and total export values in 2025 above USD 300 million. Industry commentary from Malatya highlights that, despite subdued demand, growers are holding firm on local price ideas in Turkish lira, particularly for better-sized fruit.

The combination of a smaller 2026 crop, limited carryover, solid export pace and buyers’ cautious purchasing is creating a classic standoff. European warehouses can offer slightly softer FCA levels thanks to earlier buying and currency factors, but origin sellers see little pressure to discount further. As a result, the price structure currently shows a firm FOB base with a modestly compressed margin for European distributors on some industrial grades.

Trading Outlook (Next 1–3 Weeks)

• Short-term price bias: Sideways to slightly firm FOB Malatya, with limited downside as long as export flows remain ahead of last year and growers resist lower bids.
• Buyers (importers, packers): Consider covering near-term needs on preferred grades at current FOB levels, especially unsulphured sizes no. 1–5, while using softer FCA Europe offers to fine-tune mixed programs.
• Sellers (exporters, growers): Maintain offer discipline on high-demand calibres but remain flexible on smaller and industrial grades where European FCA prices are already under slight pressure.
• Risk watch: Monitor any shift in European retail demand ahead of winter and further export statistics from Malatya; a marked slowdown in shipments could eventually weaken the FOB floor.

3-Day Regional Price Indication

• FOB Malatya (TR): Prices expected to remain stable across sulphured and unsulphured grades over the next three days, with tight ranges around current quotations and low likelihood of sudden moves.
• FCA Europe (NL, PL): Slight downward bias may persist for smaller industrial sizes and cubes as distributors compete for limited spot demand, while larger sizes are likely to trade sideways.