Dates: global production declines by 10.5%
April 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Significant decline in Saudi Arabia and Egypt
As the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) explains in its latest report, date production in the North African producing countries has increased in the 2024/25 season, although the proportion of table dates is significantly lower as weather conditions have put a spanner in the works for growers here. In the Middle East, however, although overall production has fallen slightly, the trend here is increasingly moving towards table date production – both domestic and export sales have increased here. South East Asia remains a strong import market, especially during the Ramadan period, while demand in Europe and America is stable. Buying interest in countries such as India, Turkey, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates has picked up this season, which has boosted trade with table dates in particular.
Saudi Arabia remains by far the most important date producer in the 2024/25 season, although production has declined by almost 23% to 270,000 mt. It is followed by Egypt (-10% to 180,000 mt) and the United Arab Emirates (+6.3% to 170,000 mt). Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco also suffered significant losses in production, while Iraq produced 7.7% more dates than in the previous year. Overall, global date production fell by more than 10% to just under 1.259 million mt.
|
Global date production, in mt |
|||
|
Country |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Diff. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
350,000 |
270,000 |
-22.9% |
|
Egypt |
200,000 |
180,000 |
-10.0% |
|
UAE |
160,000 |
170,000 |
6.3% |
|
Iran |
135,000 |
130,000 |
-3.7% |
|
Algeria |
140,000 |
120,000 |
-14.3% |
|
Tunisia |
135,000 |
120,000 |
-11.1% |
|
Iraq |
65,000 |
70,000 |
7.7% |
|
Morocco |
50,000 |
40,000 |
-20.0% |
|
Israel |
40,000 |
35,000 |
-12.5% |
|
USA |
30,000 |
25,000 |
-16.7% |
|
Oman |
26,000 |
25,000 |
-3.8% |
|
Pakistan |
25,000 |
25,000 |
0.0% |
|
Sudan |
8,000 |
6,000 |
-25.0% |
|
Lybia |
3,000 |
3,000 |
0.0% |
|
Others |
40,000 |
39,800 |
-0.5% |
|
Total |
1,407,000 |
1,258,800 |
-10.5% |
|
INC, March 2025 |
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Tunisia remains the most important EU supplier
In contrast to global production, EU imports of dates have risen by 2.4% since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year, totalling 59,135 mt. The most important supplier for the EU remains Tunisia, whose shipments nevertheless declined by 12.3% to 22,259 mt, followed by Algeria (+9.0% to 12,291 mt) and Iran (-4.5% to 5,254 mt). Deliveries from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan increased significantly, while imports from Morocco even rose by an impressive 157.9%. The most important importers in the EU during this period were France, Germany and the Netherlands.
|
EU date imports, in mt |
|||
|
Partner |
2024 |
2025 |
Diff. |
|
Tunisia |
25,377 |
22,259 |
-12.3% |
|
Algeria |
11,280 |
12,291 |
9.0% |
|
Iran |
5,501 |
5,254 |
-4.5% |
|
Israel |
5,758 |
5,030 |
-12.6% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1,770 |
3,272 |
84.9% |
|
Pakistan |
1,994 |
3,063 |
53.6% |
|
Occupied Palestinian Territories |
1,889 |
2,074 |
9.8% |
|
UAE |
1,212 |
1,861 |
53.5% |
|
Jordan |
645 |
993 |
54.0% |
|
Morocco |
311 |
802 |
157.9% |
|
Others |
1,996 |
2,236 |
12.0% |
|
Total |
57,733 |
59,135 |
2.4% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/01-13/04 08041000 Fresh or dried dates |
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Stable prices in Iran
Iranian date prices have remained stable in recent weeks and show no signs of change. They are thus almost at the same high level as a year ago, which is due not least to the sharp rise in export prices in January and February. Mazafati dates, grade A are thus still at EUR 1.39/kg FOB Iran.
|
Dates, Iran |
|||
|
Type |
Grade |
EUR/kg |
USD/kg |
|
|
Grade A |
1.39 |
1.57 |
|
Grade B |
1.25 |
1.41 |
|
|
Premium |
1.60 |
1.81 |
|
|
Piarom |
Premium |
3.98 |
4.50 |
|
Zahedi |
Premium |
1.22 |
1.38 |
|
Sayer |
Premium |
0.98 |
1.11 |
|
FOB Iran, order volume 1 mt |
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