Turkish Dried Fig Prices Hold Firm as New Aydın Season Opens at High TL Levels

Turkish dried fig prices are holding firm as the 2026/27 season opens with very high first bids in Aydın and stable export offers from Malatya and İzmir. Early bourse trades around TRY 850/kg for top-quality product translate into elevated EUR-based replacement costs, underpinning current FOB offers. With hot, mostly dry weather across key Aegean growing areas, no immediate weather shock is visible, so near‑term price risk remains skewed slightly to the upside. The new season in Aydın officially started on 26 August 2026 with first dried figs changing hands at 850 TRY/kg at the local commodity exchange, confirming expectations of a high-price environment after tight old-crop stocks and a quality-focused orchard year. At the same time, Turkish exporters – led by Aydın, İzmir and Malatya – continue to dominate global dried fig trade, having shipped over 53,000 tons in the previous season. Peak harvest and drying run through August–September, so price discovery is just beginning, but initial quotes suggest stable-to-firm EUR FOB levels for both natural and Lerida grades.

Prices

Malatya FOB offers for conventional Turkish dried figs (natural grades) are stable versus mid‑August, with no change between 19 and 27 August 2026. Natural No. 5 trades around EUR 8.20/kg, with a quality premium up to roughly EUR 9.60/kg for No. 1. Lerida presentations from the same origin are priced slightly lower, roughly EUR 6.15–7.50/kg depending on size, also unchanged over the last week.

In İzmir, organic and value‑added formats command a significant premium: organic Lerida No. 4 is around EUR 14.80/kg and organic Protoben No. 4/5 near EUR 15.50–15.52/kg, while organic "Mini" figs are indicated above EUR 16.00/kg FOB. Conventional chopped and diced products trade near EUR 10.75/kg FOB İzmir, broadly aligned with Malatya’s mid‑range natural grades.

The domestic Aydın Commodity Exchange opening level of 850 TRY/kg for first dried figs – significantly above last season’s HMS averages – confirms a strong floor for farmer prices and implies elevated export replacement costs once converted into EUR. Combined with exporters’ ambition to achieve higher prices than in 2025/26, this points to limited downside in early‑season EUR FOB offers.

Supply & Demand

Turkey remains the dominant driver of global dried fig balance, supplying roughly half to three‑fifths of world production and about three‑quarters of exports in recent years. Aydın alone accounts for over 40,000 tons of exports and continues to lead national shipments. The 2025/26 export campaign closed at 53,663 tons, showing resilient overseas demand despite higher prices.

The 2026/27 season is starting in a tight old‑crop environment: earlier reports already highlighted that high‑quality cold‑store stocks had largely been cleared ahead of pollination, limiting availability of premium grades. Aydın sector stakeholders now explicitly aim for higher prices and increased domestic consumption, signalling that any surplus tonnage is unlikely to be discounted aggressively into export channels.

Weather & Crop Conditions (TR)

Key fig areas in western and central Türkiye are currently experiencing seasonally hot, mostly dry weather that is broadly favourable for drying and late harvest operations. In Malatya, maximum temperatures over 28–32°C with only scattered thunderstorms are forecast for 28–30 August 2026, providing good drying conditions with limited interruption risk.

İzmir, another major export hub for dried figs from the Aegean region, is set to remain very warm and sunny, with highs around 32–35°C and no significant rainfall expected over the same period. Such conditions align well with fig agronomy requirements, which favour hot, dry weather during the ripening and drying window from August to early October. No short‑term weather‑driven supply shock is visible in current forecasts.

Fundamentals & Market Drivers

• Tight high‑quality supply: Old‑crop premium material is largely exhausted, and early new‑crop flows are limited, especially in top Lerida and large natural sizes.
• Producer price ambitions: The sharp step‑up in Aydın’s first quotation to 850 TRY/kg, together with sector statements about targeting higher returns, underlines growers’ determination not to repeat previous low‑margin seasons.
• Stable export demand: With over 53,000 tons shipped last season, traditional buyers in the EU, US and other markets appear willing to absorb higher prices, particularly for certified and organic product lines.
• Domestic consumption push: Turkish stakeholders are actively promoting figs in the domestic market and investing in new orchards, which could gradually re‑balance exportable surplus if internal demand grows faster than production.

Trading Outlook (Next 1–2 Weeks)

• Buyers (importers/packers): Consider covering near‑term needs now for standard natural and Lerida grades from Malatya and İzmir, as the combination of high Aydın farmgate prices and favourable drying weather suggests limited downside and a moderate risk of early‑season offer increases.
• Organic and specialty segments: For organic Protoben, Mini and high‑end Lerida, where FOB levels already exceed EUR 14–16/kg, adopt a staggered buying strategy but avoid waiting for meaningful discounts; current farmer price dynamics argue against a near‑term correction.
• Turkish sellers/exporters: Maintain current EUR FOB indications but be prepared for selective, small discounts only on lower grades or mixed lots to secure early contracts, while defending premiums for large sizes and certified qualities.

3‑Day Directional Price Indication (TR, FOB)

• Malatya dried figs (natural & Lerida, FOB, EUR): Stable to slightly firmer over the next 3 days, supported by high Aydın farmgate benchmarks and steady export interest.
• İzmir organic & value‑added figs (FOB, EUR): Stable, with an upward bias on premium sizes and specialty cuts as new‑crop availability is still thin.
• Overall Turkish dried fig complex: Sideways‑to‑firm price tone into early September, barring an unexpected downturn in overseas demand or a sudden surge in arrivals.