Dried apricots: high risk

Mundus Agri. Ramadan has given Turkey's dried apricot exports a lift. Although weather conditions are presently ideal for developing fruits in Malatya, certain risks prevail.

Weekly exports pick up.

Exports have risen as pre-Ramadan demand is up in the Middle East. Turkey shipped 1,745 mt of dried apricots and related products overseas in the week ending on 22 January. This is clearly up on the 1,212 mt registered in the same week last year. At 46,455 MT total exports, however, range 4,000 mt lower this season so far than in the same period the previous year.

Sudden cold snap

While unusually warm weather is being witnessed in other parts of Turkey, the apricots trees are profiting from low temperatures in Malatya. Nighttime temperatures range below freezing and daytime temperatures only reach around 5C (41C). The trouble, however, is that this sudden drop may adversely impact yields.

Expectation, however, is that the prices for sulphured dried apricots will slowly but surely decline in the next few weeks. Organic apricots are also holding firm. The issue is that they are comparatively high.