Market research

Dates market in Middle Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Middle Africa" region includes following countries:

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, dates production in Middle Africa remained steady, fluctuating between 21 789 t and 22 089 t, while the market volume showed similar stability, peaking at 22 722 t in 2022.

Imports of dates experienced notable swings, dropping to 212 t in 2019 before recovering to 658 t by 2022, indicating variable external supply, whereas exports remained negligible throughout the period.

In 2024, dates imports reached 588 t, continuing a modest upward trend amid Cameroon's economic recovery, where government-led industrialization and structural transformation initiatives supported the agri-food sector.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Middle Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production dates in Middle Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dates, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of dates, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Middle Africa's dates production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 22 207 tonnes of dates, marking a 1.0% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	0.9%	1.0%	1.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports dates from Middle Africa

Exports in kind, t

Middle Africa exported 0.2 tonnes of dates in 2020, representing an 82.1% decline from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(82.1%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Namibia was the primary export partner for dates in kind, accounting for 8.5% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Middle Africa's dates exports were valued at 0.5 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp drop of 69.3% from the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(69.3%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Namibia emerged as the leading buyer of dates from Middle Africa in value terms, making up 22.8% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports dates to Middle Africa

Imports in kind, t

The market for dates imports in Middle Africa showed significant volatility during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 211.6 tonnes, then rebounded to 310.4 tonnes in 2020, a 46.7% increase from 2019. The peak was in 2018 with 464.2 tonnes, resulting in a 2.2-fold difference between the high in 2018 and the low in 2019. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, when imports fell by 54.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	31.7%	(54.4%)	46.7%	(4.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were the top sources for dates imports in kind, with shares of 36.0%, 13.7%, and 11.2%, respectively. Together, these three countries accounted for 60.9% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Dates imports to Middle Africa fell for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 316.4 thousand US dollars, a 4.5% decrease year-over-year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports dropped by 36.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -14.2%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 532.5 thousand US dollars, while the largest decline of 37.8% occurred in 2019. In contrast, 2018 saw the biggest increase at 6.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.3%	(37.8%)	(4.5%)	(14.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates continued to dominate the import structure in value terms, with shares of 28.6%, 14.4%, and 10.3%, respectively. Combined, these countries represented 53.3% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io