Turkish Dried Figs Hold Firm as New 2026/27 Season Begins

Turkish dried fig prices are stable at elevated levels as the 2026/27 season opens, with FOB Malatya and İzmir offers largely unchanged versus late August and a sideways‑to‑firm tone supported by solid export interest. A larger and healthier new crop is emerging, but exporters are in no rush to discount while early demand from Europe and the Middle East is steady and quality indications are positive. The market is entering the key transition from harvest to export loading with comfortable supply expectations but still disciplined seller behavior. Harvesting and sun‑drying in Aydın and surrounding Aegean areas are progressing under hot, dry weather, supporting good color and brix. At the same time, Turkey’s broader dried‑fruit export flows remain active, and import demand in Europe is normalizing after last season’s price shock. For now, buyers see little downside in nearby prices and are focusing on securing preferred grades and pack styles rather than waiting for cheaper offers.

Prices

Dried fig FOB offers from Malatya for conventional Turkish origin remain broadly flat compared with late August, with natural grades (No. 7–1) clustered in the mid‑single‑digit EUR/kg range and Lerida presentations at a modest discount. Premium organic formats ex‑İzmir, including cubes, Protoben and mini figs, continue to command a significant premium into the mid‑teens EUR/kg equivalent.

Trade sources report that opening bids in Aydın for the 2026/27 crop were set at relatively high TL levels, and this strength is reflected in export quotations, which are holding firm into early September. Market commentary points to a sideways‑to‑firm price tone across the Turkish dried‑fig complex, with sellers resisting lower bids while export inquiries gather pace as the crop profile becomes clearer.

Supply & Demand

The 2026/27 Turkish dried‑fig harvest is underway in Aydın, Türkiye’s main producing region, with first‑purchase ceremonies held on 26 August. Early assessments suggest a larger and healthier crop than last season, with some industry estimates pointing towards a potential output near 95,000 tonnes, subject to continued dry, stable weather through the drying and curing phase.

On the demand side, Europe remains structurally dependent on imported figs, with Türkiye still the dominant supplier even after recent years of reduced volumes and high prices that temporarily curbed EU imports. Market reports note that production estimates for dried figs are circulating and that demand is returning to more typical patterns as buyers adjust to structurally higher price levels.

Turkey’s broader dried‑fruit export complex is active, with official export‑union data showing robust dried‑fruit and products exports through early September 2026. This backdrop, together with strong competition from other dried fruits such as apricots, helps underpin price discipline among fig packers.

Fundamentals & Quality

Initial quality indications from Aydın are encouraging: early arrivals show good color and fruit size, with no major weather‑related defects reported so far. However, the exportable surplus will ultimately depend on grading outcomes, moisture levels, and the share of lots meeting tight aflatoxin and ochratoxin standards, particularly for the EU.

Historically, EU border rejections for Turkish figs due to mycotoxins have been significant, prompting exporters to tighten quality controls and sometimes divert product to less demanding destinations. This, combined with last season’s low crop, previously constrained effective export supply but also supports a risk premium in current pricing as sellers manage quality risks carefully.

Organic figs continue to move in a structurally tighter balance. Demand from Western Europe for certified organic dried fruits remains strong, while certified acreage in Türkiye grows only gradually. As a result, organic fig formats from İzmir are priced substantially above conventional product and show limited scope for near‑term discounts.

Weather Outlook (TR)

Weather in the key fig areas of Malatya and İzmir is currently hot and dry, favorable for final sun‑drying and curing. In Malatya, clear skies and maximum temperatures around 31–32°C are forecast for 10–12 September, with cool nights supporting slow, even moisture loss.

İzmir is also expected to remain sunny and very warm over the same three‑day window, with daytime highs near 31–32°C and mild nights. Such conditions are supportive of high brix and good skin condition and reduce the risk of rain‑related quality problems during drying, reinforcing the current comfortable supply outlook for the new crop.

Trading Outlook & 3‑Day Price Bias

• Short‑term bias: Sideways to slightly firm. With early‑season momentum, hot and dry weather, and exporters holding offers, meaningful price downside over the next few days appears limited.
• Buyers (importers/industrial users): Consider covering nearby Q4 needs now, especially for preferred sizes and organic product, while avoiding over‑commitment far into 2027 until a clearer view on final grade distribution and export policies emerges.
• Sellers (packers/exporters): Maintain price discipline on high‑quality and organic grades; selectively accept forward business on conventional figs where carryover and strong crop expectations justify limited discounts.