Dried Fruit Sector Representatives Met in Malatya

Association presidents and industry representatives who play a key role in Türkiye's dried fruit exports gathered in Malatya.
The meeting addressed regaining markets lost in apricot exports following last year's agricultural frost, expanding licensed warehousing, and resolving issues related to pesticide residues.

Presidents of exporter associations—which hold a significant share of Türkiye's dried fruit exports—and industry representatives convened at a sector board meeting hosted by the Malatya Commodity Exchange.

The meeting evaluated the current state of the dried fruit sector—with a particular focus on apricots—as well as export targets and challenges requiring solutions.

"OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A SCENARIO WHERE BOTH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS BENEFIT"

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Ramazan Özcan, President of the Malatya Commodity Exchange, noted that they were hosting approximately 30 sector board representatives, association presidents, and board members from the Aegean, Southeastern Anatolia, and Istanbul Exporter Associations in Malatya.

Stating that Türkiye is a major supplier in the global dried fruit trade with annual exports of approximately $2 billion, Özcan highlighted that dried apricots account for more than 25% of this total. "The businesspeople and sector board members present here today are the key figures responsible for nearly all of Türkiye's dried fruit exports. As the host, I thank them for attending our meeting," he said.

Özcan noted that the meeting was not limited to the Malatya Commodity Exchange alone; they would also hold consultations throughout the day with the Governorship, the Metropolitan Municipality, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the Apricot Research Institute, and various non-governmental organizations. Noting that 2025 has been a difficult year for both producers and the city's economy, Özcan said, "We have left behind a difficult year—both for apricot consumers worldwide and for our producers..."

...we have moved past that. However, we have now started the 2026 harvest season. While fresh apricot exports continue, dried apricot production has also begun. The produce has started arriving at our warehouses," he said.

Stating that they aim for a balanced market where producers earn high incomes and consumers can access the product, Özcan remarked, "Our entire goal is to create a system where farmers are happy, producers earn their best income in recent years, and buyers and consumers can access the product at reasonable prices. The Malatya apricot is no longer just Malatya's product; it is one of Türkiye's prestige products."

"WE WILL REGAIN THE MARKETS WE LOST"

Şemsettin Bayram Özgür, Chairman of the Sector Board of the Turkish Dried Fruit and Products Exporters' Associations, noted that dried fruit is one of Türkiye's most important export items, highlighting the great significance of grapes, figs, apricots, and pistachios to the sector.

Stating that they held their first meeting as the newly formed sector board in Malatya, Özgür noted that during the visit, they engaged with numerous institutions, particularly the Governorship, the municipality, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, and the Commodity Exchange.

Expressing that significant losses in apricot production occurred last year due to agricultural frost, Özgür said, "The yield was almost zero. We had to carry out exports using stocks remaining from the previous year. Consequently, our export figures dropped sharply, and we lost some markets."

Emphasizing that they would work to regain the lost markets, Özgür added, "Our farmers have done their part and cultivated the product in the best possible way. Now, the responsibility falls on the exporters." "We will strive to generate the highest amount of foreign currency revenue for our country by maximizing export volumes and achieving the highest possible value-added."

"LICENSED WAREHOUSING IS NOW A NECESSITY"

Yusuf Gabay, Chairman of the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, also noted that figs, grapes, and apricots are among Türkiye's prestige products, stating that Türkiye's dried fruit exports reached the $1.7 billion mark last year.

Stating that 69 percent of these exports were handled by the Aegean Exporters' Associations, Gabay noted that apricot exports remained at approximately $250 million due to agricultural frost, with half of that volume realized by the Aegean Exporters' Associations.

Mentioning their visit to the Malatya Commodity Exchange's licensed warehousing facilities, Gabay said, "We saw last year just how important licensed warehousing is. Due to climate change, there may be years with low yields or no harvest at all. To maintain our strength in existing markets and gain access to new ones, it is crucial to store our produce in licensed warehouses during years of abundant supply."

Thanking the Malatya Commodity Exchange and everyone involved in the licensed warehousing investments, Gabay stated that these investments hold strategic importance for the sector.


"EXPORTS COULD REACH $2.5 BILLION IF THE PESTICIDE ISSUE IS RESOLVED"

Semih Ergüder, Chairman of the Board of the Istanbul Dried Fruit and Products Exporters' Association, noted that Türkiye generates approximately $2 billion in dried fruit exports.

Expressing that the issue of aflatoxin in figs and pesticide residues in grapes and apricots constitutes one of the biggest obstacles to exports, Ergüder said, "Having our products returned from abroad creates a major problem for our exporters. The process of returning goods to the origin is also quite difficult."

Stating that they were impressed by the licensed warehouses established in Malatya, Ergüder added that local administrative authorities and law enforcement agencies also need to support the process of combating the pesticide issue. Stating that they had discussed this matter with the Governor, Ergüder said, "We believe that once this issue is resolved, Türkiye's dried fruit exports will reach $2.5 billion."

"COLD STORAGE FACILITIES HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED THE SECTOR"

Meanwhile, Yalçın Geyik, Vice Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Dried Fruit and Products Exporters' Association, remarked that the cold storage facilities—realized under the leadership of the Malatya Commodity Exchange—represented a revolutionary investment for the apricot sector.

Stating that the importance of these investments was better understood during last year's agricultural frost event, Geyik said, "Today, we also toured the analysis laboratory, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This represents a major asset for the sector."

Noting the Malatya Governorship's sensitivity regarding the issue of pesticides, Geyik added, "We believe that, with the contributions of our President and through our joint efforts, we will resolve this issue as well. I hope our meeting yields beneficial results for the sector."