Three severe bouts of frost have had a major impact on volumes of various Turkish crops this spring, as temperatures plunged across large parts of the country, with cherries and apricots two of the worst affected
Turkey experienced one of the worst frosts in history this spring, with many stonefruit crops, including cherries and apricots, severely affected. “Expected losses in cherries for the June period stand at up to 50 per cent,” says Kerim Taner, executive chairman of Perla Fruit. “July supplies will be 80-90 per cent less than normal.”
According to Taner, the combination of high demand from the local market and scarce supplies is expected to drive prices up this season.
Akin Söyleyen, marketing manager at Turkish exporter Aksun, described the frost as “unprecedented in scale”, with orchards across multiple growing regions reporting major losses. “It has affected everything,” he told Fruitnet, calling it one of the most significant frost events the country has witnessed in recent memory.
On 10-12 April, temperatures dropped to as low as -15C in some regions, with over a third of Turkey’s 81 provinces experiencing frost and snowfall. The widespread cold has been labelled the worst frost to hit the country in three decades, affecting key agricultural areas.
The eastern province of Malatya was badly affected, an area that produces 85 per cent of Turkey’s apricots. Losses have been estimated at over US$500mn, with damage to trees potentially impacting next year’s harvest, according to a report from the Daily Sabah.
More than three quarters of vineyards were damaged in the western province of Manisa, with further reports of big losses of potatoes, flowers, walnuts and almonds. One of the worst-hit crops has been hazelnuts, the country’s largest single agricultural export, bringing in revenues of more than US$2bn a year. Some citrus-producing regions in the south of the country reported losses of up to 80 per cent.
On a recent visit to Malatya, agriculture and forestry minister Ibrahim Yumaklı reported visible damage to apricot trees. He said the government had launched recovery efforts aimed at restoring tree health and ensuring next year’s yield.
According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the country exported US$55.6mn of apricots in 2020, rising to US$61.8mn in 2021 and peaking at US$82.6mn in 2022. Following a dip to US$58.6mn in 2023, volumes bounced back in 2024, rising 20.4 per cent to US$70.6mn, Daily Sabah reported.
Between 2020 and 2024, total exports reached US$329.3mn, with Russia being the top buyer, importing US$179.4mn of Turkish apricots.
Yunus Kılıç, board member of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture (TZOB), said the frost damage in Malatya had been catastrophic. “Every single apricot tree in the province has been affected,” he told Anadolu Agency. The situation is apparently similar in neighbouring provinces like Elazığ, Kahramanmaraş and Sivas, also significant apricot-producing regions.
Annual production usually stands at around 750,000 tonnes of apricots, making Turkey the world’s biggest producer. This year, however, volumes are expected to collapse to around 10,000 tonnes, according to Kılıç.
The cold snap not only devastated apricots, but also caused significant damage to peaches, apples and nectarines.
Damage assessments are continuing, with the Turkish government reportedly eyeing plans to reimburse farmers for their production costs. Kılıç also called for loan restructuring on debts owed by farmers to Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives.
“These adjustments would provide crucial support to the sector,” he told the Daily Sabah. “The goal is to help producers return to full-scale production next year. Farmers are also being trained on how to care for damaged trees to encourage recovery and fruiting in the next season.”
Turkish producer-exporter Alanar’s cherry, apricot and plum production has been significantly affected by the frost, according to commercial coordinator Yigit Gökyigit. In total, he told Fruitnet, Alanar lost more than half of its crop over the spring.
“Frost affected almost the entire country, occurring three times in three months,” he says. “In some regions, the damage grew exponentially. In February, a major frost hit Adana, Mersin and Hatay, and in March the vineyards of the Aegean region were badly affected. In mid-April, frost across the country caused an even bigger disaster in these regions.
“Most of the main export products are affected, especially stonefruit like cherries and apricots, as well as apples and grapes. There will be a significant shortage in the tonnage of some varieties exported from Turkey. Prices are in general expected to be much higher than last year, depending on the product.”
