Arab exporters raise global date market share to 68.4% as trade reaches $2.62 billion

Arab suppliers expand their global position

The value of global date exports reached about $2.62 billion in 2025, with Arab countries accounting for 68.4% of the market, according to a study presented at the International Date Council conference and reported by Al-Masry Al-Youm. Their share was 53.3% in 2021, meaning that more than two-thirds of global date exports by value now originate in Arab economies.

The study examined international date trade between 2021 and 2025. It was presented by Ezz El-Din Gadallah El-Abbasi, chairman of the International Date Council’s Studies and Research Committee, during a regional workshop in Cairo on the sector’s geopolitical challenges and potential responses. Participants included Agricultural Research Center President Adel Abdel Azim, former agriculture minister Abdel Moneim El-Banna and International Date Council strategy and business development director Iman El-Faridi.

Trade surplus widens as import share declines

Combined exports from Arab countries reached about $1.79 billion in 2025, against imports of $731.2 million. Their share of global date imports declined from 28% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, while their collective trade surplus in the product increased by 45%, from $732 million to $1.059 billion.

The figures point to a stronger net-export position rather than growth driven solely by rising two-way trade. Greater concentration among Arab suppliers also makes processing standards, packaging capacity and access to premium markets increasingly important competitive factors. Conference participants said competition in recent years has moved beyond export volumes, with value addition, product quality, packaging and processing now helping determine which suppliers can reach higher-priced markets.

Egypt climbs to sixth place

Egypt recorded annual export growth of 29.5% over the 2021-2025 period and moved from 13th place globally to sixth in 2025. The value of its date exports rose from about $52.2 million in 2021 to $146.9 million in 2025. According to the study, exports increased by about 2.8 times in value and 2.2 times in volume during the period, indicating that export value rose faster than physical shipments.

Egypt’s date trade surplus more than tripled, rising from $31.3 million to $101.7 million. Its annual surplus growth rate was 34.3%, which the study described as the highest among Arab countries for this commodity. The performance strengthens Egypt’s position not only as a producer but also as a supplier capable of capturing more export revenue from each unit shipped.

Growth varies sharply among Arab exporters

Export performance was uneven across the region. The study reported annual growth of 12.4% for Saudi Arabia, 10.8% for Palestine, 7.9% for Tunisia and 6.3% for Algeria. Libya recorded an exceptional 65.9%, while Morocco posted 53.5%.

These differences suggest that the Arab bloc’s rising market share is being supported by both established exporters and rapidly expanding smaller suppliers. For producers and processors, future gains will depend on converting available crops into consistent, market-ready products. Exporters will need to compete on grading, processing, packaging and access to premium destinations, while buyers face a global market in which supply by value is increasingly concentrated in Arab countries.