Turkish Tree Fruit Market Update 01.07.24

Apricots

The export volume for the 2023 apricot crop reached 62,500 metric tons by the third week of June 2024, which is 22.5% lower than the 76,600 metric tons of the 2022 crop during the same period. However, the unit average export price has increased by 12% from $5,591 to $6,262 per MT this year.

For the current crop, there is more availability for sulphured apricots, when compared to natural and organic apricots. The dried apricot volume for the 2024 crop has been announced as 105,517 tons but the weather temperature is higher than expected for this season. There is a need to closely monitor if the excess heat will increase the physical quality defects. As of today, the expectation is that the availability of sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be more available than jumbo sizes. The harvest will start shortly, followed by high-altitude areas at the end of July. Currently, labour seems to be an issue during harvest. If this continues, raw material prices may be affected.

Figs

By the third week of June 2024, the export volume for the 2023 crop reached 56,100 metric tons, a 6.2% decrease compared to the 59,600 metric tons exported during the same period in 2022. However, the average unit export price rose to $5,340 per metric ton, a 29.8% increase from the previous crop's price of $4,114 per metric ton.

For the current crop, smaller sizes are more available than jumbo sizes. This scarcity has kept raw material prices tight. The caprification process for the new crop has just been completed. While high temperatures may affect quality as they did last year, the current quality remains acceptable. The next 10-12 days are critical for fig trees as they approach harvest.

This year, 'black insect' infestations have been problematic for fig trees. Some regions are also facing Mediterranean fruit fly infestations, posing additional risks. Farmers are actively combating these issues with regular monitoring and safe insecticides. The Ministry of Agriculture is providing guidance and precautions to address these challenges.

via Pagmat