Saudi Arabia leads global date exports by value for fourth consecutive year

Export value reaches 1.938 billion riyals

Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in date exports by value for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, according to International Trade Centre data cited by Okaz. The country exported dates worth approximately 1.938 billion riyals during the year, equivalent to about $513.3 million based on the figure reported by Al-Wafd.

The result extends Saudi Arabia’s lead in a product category closely linked to the country’s agricultural economy and food-processing sector. Maintaining the top position by value for four years indicates that Saudi suppliers are competing through market access, product range and quality, rather than relying only on the scale of the domestic harvest.

Saudi dates reach more than 125 countries

The National Center for Palms and Dates said Saudi dates were shipped to more than 125 countries. That geographic reach gives producers and exporters a broad customer base and reduces their dependence on a limited number of destination markets.

The center attributed stronger international demand partly to the diversity and quality of Saudi varieties. It also said its initiative to enable Saudi date exports and facilitate entry into global markets had helped companies expand shipments, enter multiple foreign markets and strengthen the presence of Saudi products in international retail channels.

Production exceeds 1.9 million tonnes

Saudi Arabia’s date production exceeds 1.9 million tonnes, according to the National Center for Palms and Dates. More than 37 million palm trees are distributed across the country’s different regions, providing the agricultural base needed to serve both domestic consumers and overseas buyers.

The comparison between export value and total production also shows the importance of processing, grading, packaging and sales strategy. Not all harvested dates are exported, and export leadership by value depends on how effectively suppliers can convert production into products suited to foreign retail, wholesale and food-manufacturing markets.

Supply chains and market access remain central

Ahmed Al-Mousa, chief executive of the National Center for Palms and Dates, said support for the sector and coordination among government bodies, private companies and other stakeholders had contributed to developing supply chains, improving export efficiency and widening the international distribution of Saudi dates.

For producers and processors, access to more than 125 countries creates opportunities but also raises requirements for consistent quality, sorting, packaging and delivery. Exporters must maintain those standards across a large network of markets, while international buyers gain access to a supplier backed by output of more than 1.9 million tonnes. Saudi Arabia’s next challenge is therefore not simply to preserve production scale, but to defend export value and retail presence as its destination network continues to expand.