Egypt is the largest global producer of dates, boasting a thriving dates market supported by the country’s unique climate, particularly in the Nile Valley and the oases of Upper Egypt. This ancient industry, deeply rooted in Egyptian culture and agriculture, has evolved significantly in recent years.

The market offers a wide range of date varieties, including the renowned Siwa, Zaghloul, and Barhi. These different types cater to various consumer preferences, both domestically and internationally. Egypt's strategic geographical location also offers easy access to key export markets in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

This Factsheet provides a comprehensive overview of the date market in Egypt, highlighting the country’s global position as a producer and exporter.

• The total cultivated area of date palms in Egypt remarkably increased by 25.4% year-over-year (YoY) to 177,100 feddan in 2022. This represents around 1% of the total cultivated area in Egypt. The number of cultivated palms hit 15.7 million.
• In 2022, Egypt’s production of dates increased by 8% YoY, totaling 1.8 million tons, compared to previous production of 1.7 million, according to the latest statistics.
• Giza led governorates in terms of date production, with a share of 15% of the total date production, followed by Aswan in second spot with 13% and Sharqia with around 12%.
• Egypt’s global share of date production reached 18%, securing its position as the largest producer in the world. In the Middle East, Egypt’s production of dates accounted for 24% of the region’s total production, with Saudi Arabia and Algeria trailing behind.
• In 2023, Egypt’s date exports grew significantly by 25% YoY to $88.15 million. The country ranked 8th among the world’s date exporters, with a market share of 4.5%. Date exports represented around 2% of Egypt’s total food exports.
• Egyptian dates were exported to 71 global markets, mainly in the Middle East region. Morocco alone imported $45.2 million worth of dates, representing 51% of Egypt’s total exports. Indonesia came in second place, with a share of 22.6%, followed by Türkiye with 11.4%.
• In February 2024, Egypt charted its strategy for a sustainable date palm sector during 2024-2029. This strategy targets increasing exports of fresh and processed dates to $250 million annually over the next five years, with a plan to reach $500 million within 10 years. Additionally, the plan aims to reduce the loss of fresh dates by 15% and lower the supply chain costs by 20%.

By: Amina Hussein

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