The bloom for 2015 crop apricots was not what the farmers had been hoping for due to continuous frosts and heavy rain in March and April. Temperature averages were lower than the seasonal averages for Malatya. Another frost hit on 24th of April but fortunately damage was not as bad as initial estimations had predicted.
An average apricot crop is in the region of 100,000-120,000 mtons but this years crop is expected to be below the 100,000 mtons level.
Weather forecasts are showing high temperatures and sun in Malatya over the next 10 days and the progress of the crop in May will give a much clearer picture about the size and quality of the new crop.
No carryover is expected from the 2014 crop and the last volumes are expected to be snapped up by July. There will be huge demand on new crop at the start of the season so we would expect prices to come off after initially starting off high.
The first shipments of new crop are likely to take place after 15th August which is due to the crops late bloom. It looks like late July/early August shipments will not be possible.
Report by Adam Johnston