Turkish Dried Figs Edge Higher as New Crop Flows; Spain Stable

Turkish dried fig prices are inching up on fresh-crop tightness and strong export interest, while Spanish offers remain broadly steady but firm. Hot, mostly dry weather in key Turkish and Spanish growing regions supports quality and drying, keeping sellers in a comfortable position. Dried fig markets are entering September with a mildly bullish tone. In Türkiye, weekly export activity has accelerated as new-crop volumes arrive, while market reports continue to signal favourable orchard conditions and a very good dried fig crop outlook. At the same time, European demand for high-quality, compliant product remains solid, even as tighter border controls on Turkish figs keep quality-focused buyers cautious. In Spain’s Extremadura, the early start to the dried fig campaign and persistently warm, settled weather underpin expectations for a good season in both volume and quality.

Prices

All prices converted to approximate EUR/mt, FOB.

Supply & Demand

In Türkiye, industry sources highlight that conditions for the new dried fig crop remain broadly favourable, with production estimates pointing to a strong 2025/26 campaign and only small carry-in stocks. Weekly export volumes have picked up sharply as buyers move to cover, adding upward pressure on premium grades. Fresh fig exporters also report a standout fresh season in terms of sizing and quality, confirming the positive underlying orchard picture.

European demand for figs is healthy, with Turkish fresh figs gaining space on retail shelves and supporting brand visibility for the origin. On the dried side, stricter EU border controls and a high rate of RASFF rejections for Turkish figs and other tropical fruit have pushed some trade flows toward more compliance-focused channels and increased selectivity on suppliers. This is underpinning prices for well-documented, certified lots. In Spain, Extremadura’s dried fig campaign started about a week early on strong heat, and growers continue to expect good yields and quality alongside resilient export demand.

Weather & Crop Conditions (ES, TR)

In Aydın and the wider Aegean fig belt in Türkiye, early September temperatures are forecast in the low to mid-30s °C during the day, with warm, dry conditions and minimal rainfall. This supports late drying and harvest operations and limits disease pressure, favouring good colour and sugar concentration in dried figs.

In Spain’s Extremadura, the season started under above-normal heat, which advanced fruit maturity for Almoharín-type dried figs. More recently, local reports note some rainfall and a moderation in temperatures that have generally been seen as beneficial to most crops, reducing heat stress without major damage. Overall, weather in both ES and TR remains supportive of current crop quality and drying, with no immediate weather-driven downside risk priced in.

Fundamentals & Market Drivers

• Export pace from Türkiye: Latest market news points to surging weekly dried fig exports as the new crop becomes available, with only limited old-crop stocks remaining. This is tightening nearby supply and backing the current mild price uptrend in İzmir.
• Quality and compliance premium: EU data show that Turkish figs face elevated rates of border rejections linked mainly to mycotoxins, keeping them under reinforced official controls. This environment favours exporters with strong food safety systems and supports a firm premium for top-grade, fully certified material.
• European demand profile: Structural growth in fresh fig presence at European retail, driven by Turkish and Spanish supply, signals wider consumer familiarity and indirectly supports dried fig demand in ingredient and snacking segments.
• Spanish competition and diversification: Extremadura’s early and promising dried fig harvest offers EU buyers a tariff-free, lower-risk origin alternative, particularly valued for ease of compliance with EU rules. This caps aggressive upside in mid-range Turkish offers but does not fully offset tightness in premium organic grades.

Trading Outlook

• Short-term bias (1–3 weeks): Mildly bullish for Turkish organic whole figs (Protoben, Lerida) on strong export demand and favourable but finite new-crop supply; stable-to-firm for Spanish dried figs as early campaign sales progress.
• Buyers (industry, packers): Consider covering a portion of Q4–Q1 needs now in premium Turkish grades, prioritising suppliers with proven EU compliance. Use Spanish offers strategically to diversify origin and negotiation leverage.
• Sellers (exporters, cooperatives): Maintain offer discipline in top organic and small-size segments where availability is tight. For standard industrial qualities, a slightly more flexible stance may help lock in volume before broader Northern Hemisphere dried fruit supply peaks.
• Risk watch: Monitor any shift in EU control regimes or new RASFF alerts on Turkish figs, which could temporarily disrupt flows or widen the quality premium, as well as any late adverse weather in ES or TR that could affect drying conditions.

3‑Day Regional Price Indication (Direction)

• Türkiye – İzmir (TR): Dried figs FOB in EUR are expected to trade steady to slightly higher over the next three days, particularly for organic Protoben/Lerida and minis, as exporters work through active short-term demand.
• Türkiye – Malatya (TR): For conventional natural and Lerida dried figs, prices are likely to remain broadly stable, with only limited upside as the market tracks developments in the Aegean export hubs.
• Spain – Extremadura/Madrid (ES): Organic "Spanish Gold" dried fig prices in EUR are forecast to hold firm and stable, supported by good-quality early crop and steady EU demand but ample availability at this stage of the campaign.