The Dried Apricot Trade in Turkiye Has Come to a Standstill Due to the Earthquake

A massive earthquake struck southern Turkiye and northern Syria on February 6, causing widespread damage and killing thousands of people. The disaster has been labeled as one of the biggest natural disasters by the UN, while the Turkish president has called it the disaster of the century. In addition, the earthquake has also severely impacted the dried apricot trade in Turkiye, as Malatya, the main production center, was heavily damaged. Apricot traders cannot be reached, and shipments from Malatya are unlikely to resume for at least two to three months. The lack of labor could also cause problems for the upcoming campaign. Some market participants have decided to send donations to those affected by the disaster. Significant aftershocks are still occurring, and on February 27, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit, with the epicenter located in Malatya.