Turkish Dried Figs: Stable Malatya FOB With Slight Lerida Firming

Malatya FOB prices for Turkish dried figs are broadly stable in mid-October, with a slight firming in Lerida grades while natural qualities and organic products in İzmir remain flat to marginally softer. A record 2026/27 crop and smooth early export logistics keep the market well supplied, but selective strength persists for higher-quality, large-sized fruit. New-crop Turkish dried figs are now flowing steadily into export channels after generally favourable weather during fruit development and drying. Aydin and the wider Aegean region report a larger and healthier crop for 2026/27 versus last season, reinforcing Türkiye’s dominant role in global fig trade. Strong demand from core destinations such as the EU and the United States continues, though buyers remain price-sensitive and focused on food-safety compliance and defect levels. With weather in Malatya and İzmir turning cooler but mostly dry, short-term supply chains look uninterrupted and support a sideways-to-firm price profile.

Prices

FOB Malatya prices for conventional dried figs remain in a narrow range. Natural No. 1–7 qualities are unchanged versus early October, while Lerida grades have edged up slightly over the past week.

In İzmir, organic dried fig offers are stable to slightly soft: organic Lerida No. 4 at 14.9 EUR FOB, organic Protoben No. 4/5 at 15.65 EUR FOB and organic “Mini” at 16.15 EUR FOB. Chopped conventional figs are indicated around 10.8 EUR FOB İzmir, while organic fig cubes hold at 9.7 EUR FOB İzmir. Price spreads reflect premiums for organic certification, processed forms and smaller specialty sizes.

Supply & Demand

For 2026/27, industry estimates point to a Turkish dried fig crop close to record territory, around the mid‑90,000 t range, following healthy orchards and good fruit set in Aydin and surrounding districts. World supply of dried figs is projected to rise on the back of Türkiye’s gains, consolidating its role as the key origin in an otherwise concentrated global market.

Export flows are already active: season-to-date Turkish dried fig shipments approach 30,000 t, with Germany, France, the United States and China among the leading buyers. Broader trade data confirm that figs (fresh and dried) remain a strategic export item, with Türkiye shipping over 86,000 t worldwide in 2024, led by the US and major EU economies. Recent customs data also show steady containerized dried-fig movements from Turkish ports such as İzmir and Nemrut Bay through late August 2026, underlining smooth logistics.

On the demand side, the EU still absorbs nearly half of Turkish dried fruit exports, with the Aegean region standing out as a hub for dried figs, raisins and related products. Buyers remain focused on aflatoxin control and mould management, which Turkish exporters address via inspection and segregation programs that typically remove a few percent of lots from the export stream. This quality filtering, together with strong interest in large, clean fruit, supports premiums for top grades even in a well-supplied year.

Fundamentals & Weather

Recent analysis of the 2026/27 dried-fig campaign highlights a record Turkish crop around 94,000 t, supported by benign weather during fruit development and drying, and firm official farm-gate prices set by leading cooperatives. With higher beginning stocks and stronger production, global dried fig availability for 2025/26–2026/27 is projected to increase significantly, lifting world supply above 170,000 t.

Over the next three days, Malatya is forecast mostly cloudy today with a chance of thunderstorms, then turning sunnier and pleasantly mild over the weekend, with daytime highs around 20–21°C. İzmir should see mostly sunny conditions, with a brief cool, showery spell on Saturday before returning to clear skies and highs near 20°C. These short-term patterns are not expected to disrupt dried-fig processing or logistics, as the main sun-drying phase in key fig regions is already largely completed.

3–5 Day Outlook & Trading View

• Merchants / Exporters: With Malatya natural and Lerida prices stable to slightly firmer and export demand steady, maintain current offer levels but be prepared for selective discounts on small or blemished fruit to keep stocks moving.
• Importers / Industrial users: The record crop and smooth early exports argue for a broadly sideways market near term; consider covering nearby Q4 needs, while staggering larger positions into Q1 to benefit from continued competitive Turkish supply.
• Retail packers: Use current stability in FOB prices to lock in premium, large-calibre and organic lots, as quality differentials may widen if lower-grade material accumulates later in the season.

3-day regional price indication (direction only):

• Malatya (TR) dried figs, natural & Lerida, FOB: broadly steady with a slight firm tone on Lerida grades.
• İzmir (TR) organic and processed figs, FOB: stable to marginally soft amid comfortable supply and selective demand.
• Global benchmark demand (EU, US, East Asia): steady; no short-term trigger for a sharp move up or down is visible over the next three trading days.