Dried apricots are naturally fat-free and cholesterol-free as well as a rich source of fiber. Dried apricot contains more of the minerals and fiber than the raw original and they create an outstanding substitute for clean apricots out of season. In addition to being rich in potassium, apricots possess several health benefits, including antioxidant properties that promote eye, skin, and gut health.
The global dried apricot market is growing at a significant pace owing to factors such as the growing inclination of consumers towards healthy food consumption and increasing consciousness about health amongst the population. Dried apricots are becoming a popular nut snack among the consumer due to their strong sweet-sour flavor, low glycemic index and are high in fiber. The hectic lifestyle of people is restricting them to maintain a proper diet which results in high consumption of dried apricots owing to presence of rich nutrients such as fiber, potassium, iron, and vitamin present in them. Also, owing to their high nutritional value, dried apricots are offering wide application in cosmetics and skincare products.
Thus, increased usage of dried apricot in homemade skincare masks and face washes is expected to offer new streamlines for market growth. Further, increasing disposable income has empowered consumers to spend more on healthy food options which in turn is also contributing to the market growth. However, high prices of dried fruits and the use of additives in making dried apricots may restrain the market growth. On the other hand, the increasing prevalence of diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), colon cancer, and prostate cancer among adults is projected to drive product demand during the forecast period.
The global dried apricot market is divided based on product type, application, and region. Based on the product type, the global market is split into powdered, whole dried, and granular. The application segment consists of hypermarkets/supermarkets, B2B, E-commerce, specialty retail, and others.
Geographically, North America is anticipated to dominate the global dried apricot market during the forecast period. Factors such as increasing health consciousness and rising adoption of a healthy lifestyle among the population are driving the growth of the market in this region. The US and Canada are expected to contribute majorly in the dried apricots market in North America region. Europe is estimated to be the second-largest position in the market and is anticipated to account for a moderate share over the forecast period. This is attributed to the growing popularity of nutritional food products and the growing consumption of dried apricots in bakery products in this region.
The global dried apricot market is highly fragmented due to the presence of several domestic players in the market. King Apricot, Bata Food, Kenko Corporation, Chi Tree, National Raisin Company, Ziba Foods, Kayisicioglu Apricot, Del Monte Foods, Inc., Dag Food, Quirkeycots, and Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. are some of the major players that are operating in the global dried apricot market. The leading players are focusing on new product launches to gain a competitive edge in the global market.
In 2016, Del Monte Foods, Inc. had launched dried apricot and offer applications to breakfast cereals, salads, desserts, and dry fruit cakes.