US Dried Apricot Bill of Lading Data | Tropicon Foods Inc

Turkey dominates the global dried apricot market, producing approximately 800,000-1,000,000 metric tons annually. The Malatya province in eastern Turkey is the epicenter of apricot cultivation, often referred to as the 'Apricot Capital of the World.' The unique climate and soil conditions of this region produce apricots with exceptional sweetness, color, and nutritional value that are highly sought after in international markets.

The route from Mersin to Long Beach via Gioia Tauro represents one of the most common logistics paths for Turkish dried fruit exports to North America. The Mediterranean transshipment hub at Gioia Tauro allows for efficient container consolidation, reducing per-unit shipping costs. The total transit time for this route typically ranges from 25 to 35 days depending on vessel schedules and port congestion.

This shipment utilized a single 20-foot dry container (20'DC) carrying 19,800 kg across 1,500 cartons. This translates to approximately 13.2 kg per carton, which is consistent with standard commercial packing for dried apricots. A 20-foot container can typically hold between 18,000-22,000 kg of dried apricots depending on packing density and carton dimensions.

Dried apricots imported into the United States under HTS 0813.10 are subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, phytosanitary requirements from USDA-APHIS, and potential anti-dumping duties. Importers must ensure compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), including proper documentation of the foreign supplier verification program (FSVP).