Nectarine prices in Bursa triple following supply shifts

Nectarines in the Gürsu district of Bursa, Turkey, have seen prices triple from 10 lira to between 30 and 40 lira per kilogram. This price surge follows a period of heavy supply in July and August that caused prices to plummet and led some farmers to cut down their trees.

The recovery is attributed to a shift in the supply-demand balance as mid-season stocks have depleted and late-season varieties have entered the market. Turkey's national nectarine production is expected to reach 414,000 tons this year, a 107 percent increase, while peach production is projected to rise by 88 percent to 835,000 tons.

Late-season varieties are particularly valuable as they can be stored in cold storage for up to two months. These varieties are primarily exported to markets in Russia, Azerbaijan, the Balkans, and Central Asia. Local producers note that while the current prices are better than the summer lows, they largely only cover the significantly increased costs of labor and agricultural inputs.