Dates market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the dates market volume in Southern Asia increased from 1 603 thousand tons to 1 728 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by rising global demand for organic dates and the expansion of date palm cultivation and processing facilities in the Middle East, which boosted production. The introduction of new premium and organic date products catered to health-conscious consumers, further supporting consumption.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused significant supply chain disruptions, leading to a decline in market volume to 1 578 thousand tons. However, a shift in consumer preferences toward healthy snacking and natural sweeteners helped sustain demand. By 2021, substantial investments in processing, packaging, and cold chain infrastructure, coupled with government initiatives to promote date exports, facilitated a strong recovery to 1 810 thousand tons.

Market volume dropped sharply to 1 082 thousand tons in 2022. In 2023, it rebounded to 1 637 thousand tons, supported by the launch of innovative products such as refrigerated date snack packs and a growing industry focus on sustainability and organic farming practices. Strategic partnerships among major producers also contributed to enhancing production capacity during this period.

Production dates in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of dates, 2017-2020

World map of production of dates, 2017-2020

Southern Asia's dates production declined after two years of growth. In 2020, the region produced 1 798 K t of dates, marking a 4.0% decrease from the previous year. Production had increased by 9.4% between 2017 and 2020, averaging a 3.0% annual growth rate. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1 873 K t, with the largest annual increase occurring in 2018 at 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Southern Asia's dates production value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 2 280 M $ US, down 12.0% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 20.9%, representing a compound annual growth rate of -7.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports dates from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Southern Asia exported 281.4 K t of dates in 2020, showing a sharp increase of 36.7% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 37.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.2%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 287.3 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 28.3%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 40.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Southern Asia's dates exports in kind were not concentrated on a few key markets. The United Arab Emirates accounted for 10.4% of exports, Kazakhstan for 7.6%, and Turkey for 7.0%, with these three countries together representing only 25.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Southern Asia exported 356.9 M $ US worth of dates in 2020, up 25.4% from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 284.6 M $ US, while the highest was in 2018 at 451.2 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 36.9%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 25.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Southern Asia's dates exports in value terms were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. The United Arab Emirates accounted for 8.6% of exports, Turkey for 7.6%, and Kazakhstan for 7.2%, with these three countries together making up just 23.4% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports dates to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Southern Asia imported 61.5 K t of dates in 2020, a slight increase of 0.6% year-over-year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 61.1 K t, while the highest was in 2018 at 86.7 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 29.5%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 40.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were consistently the main sources for Southern Asia's dates imports in kind. The United Arab Emirates accounted for 43.7% of imports, Iraq for 6.5%, and Saudi Arabia for 3.5%, with these three countries together representing 53.7% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Southern Asia's dates imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 112.3 M $ US, showing a sharp rise of 26.0% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 82.7%, averaging an annual growth rate of 22.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were the primary suppliers of dates to Southern Asia in value terms. The United Arab Emirates accounted for 50.4% of imports, Iraq for 5.6%, and Saudi Arabia for 4.6%, with these three countries together making up 60.6% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020