Turkish Dried Apricots: Stable Malatya Prices into Strong 2026 Crop

Turkish dried apricot prices in Malatya and Ankara are holding broadly steady as the 2026 crop moves through harvest, with FOB offers for sulphured and unsulphured grades showing no change over recent weeks in EUR terms. A strong, mostly undamaged Malatya crop and firm export interest are keeping the tone calm but underpinned rather than weak. With the new harvest now in full swing in Malatya, local and national authorities highlight a return to a “bountiful” season after last year’s frost damage, and the official 2026 dried apricot crop estimate points to around 100,000 t nationally, including roughly 67,000 t from Malatya alone. Weather conditions this week are hot and dry in the main producing regions, favouring drying and quality rather than creating additional supply shocks. Export demand remains healthy, and trade sources see limited justification for significant price discounting in the very short term.

Prices

FOB Malatya and Ankara quotations for Turkish dried apricots are flat compared with mid-June, signalling a stable start to the 2026/27 marketing window. In EUR/mt terms, bulk sulphured size 4–5 material in Malatya is roughly €7,900–7,950/mt, while comparable unsulphured material trades around €7,800–7,900/mt. Premium organic grades command a clear uplift, with Malatya and Ankara offers for organic unsulphured sizes 1–3 clustering in the €9,300–10,350/mt range.

In destination Europe, FCA warehouse prices for Turkish-origin apricots in the Netherlands and Poland sit noticeably below FOB Turkey in €/kg terms once freight and logistics are stripped out, reflecting older-crop or secondary qualities and aggressive competition among distributors. However, recent export offers from Malatya-based packers and traders continue to describe the current market as “steady”, with no sign of panic selling despite the large crop.

Supply & Demand

The 2026 Turkish apricot crop is described by the Agriculture Ministry as a return to strength after last year’s weather damage, with Malatya again highlighted as the global reference origin and accounting for about 85% of Turkey’s dried apricot output. A provincial commission estimate puts Malatya’s 2026 dried equivalent at roughly 67,000 t and the national total near 100,000 t, a volume consistent with a comfortable but not burdensome balance.

On the demand side, first-half 2026 export revenues from dried apricots remain robust according to local trade commentary, underlining that global buyers have largely absorbed earlier price corrections. European and Asian importers continue to favour Malatya-origin material for both retail packs and industrial use, while some opportunistic demand is emerging for lower-priced secondary grades in EU warehouses as buyers hedge ahead of formal new-crop price lists later this summer.

Weather & Crop Conditions (TR)

Weather in Malatya over 22–24 July is very favourable for sun-drying: clear skies, daytime highs around 36°C and warm, dry nights. This pattern supports rapid moisture loss and good colour development, particularly for sulphured fruit, without introducing additional frost or rain risks at this stage of the season. In Ankara, conditions are similarly warm and mostly sunny, with highs between 28–33°C, which helps final field operations and logistics rather than directly affecting core apricot supply.

Authorities and local media stress that, unlike in 2025, no significant frost or storm events have hit Malatya’s orchards this year, and spring weather damage is described as limited and localized. Combined with ongoing investments in irrigation and orchard infrastructure, this underpins expectations of both solid volumes and improved quality, particularly in larger sizes and higher grades suitable for premium export programmes.

Fundamentals & Market Drivers

• Large but orderly crop: The 2026 harvest points to around 100,000 t of Turkish dried apricots, with Malatya at roughly two-thirds of that volume, suggesting a well-supplied but not heavily oversupplied market.
• Firm export channel: Trade reports emphasise that dried apricot exports continue to generate strong foreign-exchange earnings, with Malatya retaining its position as the key global hub for premium product.
• Policy and infrastructure support: Recent statements from the Agriculture Ministry highlight extensive frost-compensation schemes and irrigation investments, which reduce downside yield risk and encourage growers to maintain orchard care.
• Timing of formal new-crop pricing: Industry commentary indicates that fully formalised new-season export price lists will only be settled towards late August, so for now the market trades on expectations anchored around current levels.

Trading Outlook (Next 1–3 Weeks)

• For importers: With FOB Malatya prices stable and weather strongly supporting quality, short-term downside appears limited. Consider covering near-term needs at current levels, prioritising larger sizes and higher grades before official new-crop lists potentially add a quality premium.
• For Turkish packers/exporters: The combination of strong crop and firm demand argues for disciplined sales rather than aggressive discounting. Maintaining offer levels while selectively rewarding volume and early payment can preserve margins without losing market share.
• For EU distributors: Existing FCA stocks in NL and PL remain attractively priced versus fresh FOB offers. Tactical sales campaigns could clear old-crop volumes ahead of any branding push around the new Malatya harvest and festival-related promotion.

3‑Day Regional Price Indication (Direction, TR)

• Malatya FOB (all main grades): Stable bias over the next 3 days; strong crop and good drying weather are already priced in, with no immediate trigger for sharp moves.
• Ankara FOB (organic and selected sulphured grades): Stable to slightly firm as buyers seek limited organic volumes and alternative origins for diversification, but price gaps versus Malatya are expected to remain narrow.