Pistachio prices fluctuate amid harvest and supply shifts in Turkey

The market for fresh pistachios, often referred to as ‘green gold,’ is experiencing significant price fluctuations and harvest challenges in Turkey. In Kahramanmaraş, prices for fresh pistachios have dropped sharply from approximately 1,500 TL per kilogram in August to around 650 TL due to an increased supply of the new crop and imports from Syria. Experts suggest prices could potentially fall further to 600 TL if the high supply continues.

In the Southeast Anatolia region, producers are expressing dissatisfaction with the price gap between the farm and the retail market. While pistachios are being sold at the farm gate for approximately 395 TL per kilogram, retail prices in markets and shops are reaching 550 TL. Farmers have criticized intermediaries for capturing much of the profit, noting that they bear the maintenance costs throughout the year.

Cuma Yiğit, the Gaziantep Chamber of Agriculture Provincial Coordination President, noted that while recent rainfall has improved conditions, the total yield is not as high as expected. Due to previous years of drought, the estimated production for Gaziantep is approximately 50,000 tons, as the crop's development cycle was hindered by prior weather patterns.