Algeria Leads Africa in Date Export Volume but Trails Tunisia in Revenue
Algeria exported about 185,000 tonnes of dates in 2025, generating nearly $184 million and ranking first in Africa by volume. Tunisia shipped less but earned substantially more, highlighting Algeria’s challenge of raising export value through processing, packaging and branding.
Algeria ranks first by export volume
Algeria exported about 185,000 tonnes of dates to international markets in 2025, making it Africa’s largest exporter by volume, according to figures from Trade Map reported by Rasselmal. The shipments generated nearly $184 million in revenue, reinforcing dates as one of the agricultural products supporting Algeria’s effort to diversify exports beyond hydrocarbons.
The country’s date industry is concentrated particularly in southern producing areas such as Biskra, El Oued and Ouargla. Algeria also benefits from the international reputation of Deglet Nour dates. However, the 2025 figures show that a large production base and high shipment volumes do not automatically produce the continent’s highest export earnings.
Tunisia earns more from a smaller volume
Tunisia ranked second by volume, exporting about 147,000 tonnes during 2025, but its shipments were worth approximately $347 million. The average export value was therefore around $2,360 per tonne, compared with about $993 per tonne for Algerian dates. Tunisia earned almost twice Algeria’s revenue despite shipping 38,000 fewer tonnes.
The difference points to the commercial importance of product mix, processing, packaging, marketing and brand development. For Algerian producers and exporters, increasing volumes alone may not close the revenue gap. Higher-value retail formats and stronger positioning of recognized varieties such as Deglet Nour could raise the average return from each tonne sold abroad.
Other African exporters command higher unit values
Egypt ranked third among African exporters, shipping about 39,000 tonnes of dates worth an estimated $147 million in 2025. Libya followed with approximately 16,000 tonnes and revenue near $25 million. South Africa ranked fifth by volume with only about 6,200 tonnes, but earned $26 million, equivalent to an average value close to $4,194 per tonne.
These results underline the wide differences in unit values across African suppliers. Algeria’s average was less than half Tunisia’s and far below South Africa’s reported level. The figures do not identify the specific product grades, formats or destination markets behind the gap, but they indicate that volume leadership and revenue leadership are separate competitive positions.
Biskra production is forecast to increase
Algeria could have more fruit available for domestic processing and export in the coming seasons. Agricultural authorities in Biskra forecast date production of more than 4.1 million quintals in the 2026-2027 season, around 100,000 quintals above the previous season. Deglet Nour alone is expected to account for approximately 2.6 million quintals.
The production outlook creates room for Algeria to expand its presence in international markets, but it also increases the need for sufficient handling, processing, packaging and sales capacity. Without improvements in those areas, additional supply could reinforce Algeria’s lead in physical shipments without producing a comparable rise in receipts. For processors, exporters and investors, the central commercial issue is therefore how much of the growing crop can be sold in higher-value forms rather than as lower-priced bulk product.
