EGYPT – Egypt has swiftly become a significant supplier of palm dates to Turkey, marking substantial growth in export volumes and signaling a promising trend for Egyptian agriculture.

According to EastFruit, Egypt moved up in Turkey’s exporter rankings, reaching sixth place last season. This surge underscores the rising demand for Egyptian dates in the Turkish market.

In the past five years, Egypt’s palm date exports to Turkey expanded from just 170 tons to 3,900 tons, a dramatic increase reflecting Egypt’s commitment to meeting Turkey’s rising consumption.

Turkey, one of the world’s largest date importers—after India, Morocco, and the UAE—has seen a 60% growth in imports since the 2019/2020 season, with date consumption particularly high in winter as Ramadan approaches.

The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture notes, “Our focus is on ensuring quality exports that cater to international markets, with Turkey now a key player.”

This expansion aligns with Egypt’s broader export goals and its vision to bolster sustainable practices across the agricultural sector.

Though Iran and Saudi Arabia have long dominated the Turkish date market, their shares are gradually shrinking.

Imports from Iran have remained nearly constant at around 27,000-29,000 tons over the last four years, while Saudi Arabia’s exports to Turkey have seen modest increases, reaching approximately 10,000 tons.

Meanwhile, countries like Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt have stepped up to supply Turkey’s increasing demand, reshaping the landscape of Turkey’s palm date market.

Tunisia, for instance, has tripled its exports to Turkey in five years, achieving 9,000 tons, while Iraq and Palestine also show robust growth. Egypt, however, outpaces all other new suppliers in terms of growth rate.

With global demand for dates on the rise, the Egyptian government is leveraging this opportunity to position itself as a leading exporter.

 

A vision for sustainable growth

Egypt’s palm date industry has seen continued investments, particularly in sustainable and climate-smart production methods.

Plans are underway to increase annual export value to USD 250 million within five years, with an ambitious goal of reaching USD 500 million in the next decade.

“Egyptian agriculture is advancing toward eco-friendly, sustainable practices,” states an industry spokesperson. “We aim to improve both the environmental impact and the economic stability for our small farmers and local communities.”

Egypt already holds the title of the world’s largest date producer, contributing 19% to the global market with a staggering annual output of 1.8 million tons.

However, this rapid growth presents a new challenge: the potential for oversupply in the global market. Egyptian producers are thus exploring new markets while working to balance supply and demand to avoid market saturation.

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