THE price of Christmas puddings could be set to soar because dried fruit prices have rocketed.

Halstead importer RM Curtis says the cost of apricots has risen by 25 per cent due to poor growing conditions and terrible harvests in Turkey and the USA.

Christmas pudding producers could be forced to pass on the cost to customers with wholesalers warning the traditional dessert could become a luxury item.

Mark Setterfield, managing director at RM Curtis, said it has been a tricky year for the company, given the recession and factors such as the heavy frost in March in Turkey, which caused the production of apricots to drop drastically.

He added: “Prices have shot up and the thing about these massive increases is that to some extent the UK market will pay the price because some people will still buy the products.

“They expect to find the product on the shelf, whether it is two pence, a halfpenny or £2.”

The price of dried apricots has risen from £1,900 to £3,122 a metric tonne, according to a report by market analysts Mintec.

Sultanas and dates have shown similar jumps in price after a series of poor harvests in Turkey, the main growing area for many dried fruits.

Nick Peksa, of Mintec, said dried fruit prices have been rising since mid 2009 and this year will be increasingly challenging.

He added: “With buying for Ramadan, and the autumn winter festivals gathering pace, strong demand has caused many ingredient prices to rise.

“Christmas is the busiest time of the year for dried fruit sales, and increased demand, particularly from India and China, is limiting availability and this is a growing cause for concern.”