Saudi date export value to China rises 39% in 2025
The value of Saudi date exports to China increased by 39% in 2025, according to the National Center for Palms and Dates. Saudi Arabia’s overall date exports were valued at 1.938 billion riyals during the year.
Chinese market delivers faster growth
The value of Saudi Arabia’s date exports to China increased by 39% in 2025, according to figures disclosed by the National Center for Palms and Dates and reported by Al Riyadh. The result points to growing Chinese demand for Saudi dates and gives exporters a larger commercial foothold in one of Asia’s biggest consumer markets.
The available disclosure does not state the monetary value or shipment volume of exports to China, nor does it identify the comparison figure used to calculate the 39% increase. It therefore remains unclear whether the growth came mainly from larger volumes, higher average export prices or a change in the mix of date varieties and packaged products sold in the Chinese market.
Total Saudi exports reach 1.938 billion riyals
Saudi Arabia’s total date exports were valued at 1.938 billion riyals in 2025, the National Center said. This figure refers to the kingdom’s overall date exports rather than specifically to shipments bound for China. No total export volume, year-on-year growth rate or breakdown by destination was included in the information provided.
The distinction matters for producers, processors and traders assessing China’s weight in the Saudi date industry. A 39% increase demonstrates rapid growth, but the absence of China’s absolute import value makes it impossible to calculate the country’s share of Saudi export revenue. The figures also do not show whether China moved higher among Saudi Arabia’s main date markets during the year.
Growth creates opportunities across the supply chain
For Saudi suppliers, stronger sales to China can support investment in grading, processing, packaging and market-specific distribution. Exporters serving the country must align their product selection and commercial presentation with Chinese buyers while maintaining the quality and consistency needed for repeat orders. Processors may also benefit if demand extends beyond whole dates to packaged or otherwise prepared products.
The reported increase adds an agricultural component to commercial ties between Saudi Arabia and China. It may also encourage date producers and exporters to devote more sales resources to the Chinese market. However, companies evaluating capacity or marketing investments will need more detailed data on shipment volumes, prices, varieties, sales channels and buyer concentration.
Further data needed to assess durability
The next test will be whether the increase continues beyond 2025 and translates into a larger, stable market for Saudi suppliers. Export value can change because of prices as well as physical shipments, so volume data will be essential for judging the underlying direction of demand.
For now, the National Center’s figures establish two points: Saudi date exports to China recorded a 39% rise in value during 2025, and the kingdom’s date exports across all destinations were worth 1.938 billion riyals. More detailed destination-level figures would allow market participants to measure China’s scale and determine how much it contributed to the industry’s overall export performance.
