Tunisia's date exports have achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 1 billion dinars in value for the first time during the 2026/2025 season. According to Radio Gafsa, the total value of date exports reached over 1000 million dinars, up from approximately 830 million dinars in the previous season. This notable increase reflects the growing importance of the date sector within Tunisia's agricultural export system.
The quantity of dates exported also saw a substantial rise, reaching around 160,000 tons, compared to approximately 125,000 tons in the 2025/2024 season. This growth demonstrates the dynamic nature of the sector in terms of production, collection, marketing, and export. The Tunisian Date Association has played a crucial role in promoting Tunisian dates and highlighting their quality and characteristics, particularly the "Deglet Noor" variety.
The association has intensified its efforts to explore new markets and diversify export destinations. As a result, the list of countries receiving Tunisian dates has expanded, with exports no longer limited to traditional markets. Instead, they now include an increasing number of countries. Notably, exports to Germany rose from around 10,000 tons to approximately 16,000 tons, while Italy received around 19,000 tons and France received nearly 14,000 tons.
The growth in Tunisian date exports is not limited to traditional markets, but also includes a gradual expansion into new markets, particularly in Asia and the Americas. The quantity of dates exported to India reached around 6,000 tons, while the United States received approximately 6,000 tons. Turkey received around 7,000 tons, and Malaysia received about 5,000 tons. This diversification of export destinations is a significant indicator of the increasing global presence of Tunisian dates.
The list of destinations for Tunisian dates has also included new markets or countries that are experiencing growth in their import volumes. These include Estonia, Cambodia, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and Belarus. The geographic diversity of export destinations reflects the importance of efforts to explore promising markets and introduce Tunisian products to new importers and traders.
The results achieved during the 2026/2025 season highlight the need to continue promoting Tunisian dates, expanding the base of markets, exploring new destinations, and enhancing the added value of the product. Surpassing the 1 billion dinar mark for date exports opens up new prospects for the sector and underscores the importance of continued investment in quality, promotion, valuation, innovation, and market diversification.
The growth in Tunisia's date exports, particularly for the "Deglet Noor" variety, solidifies its position as a prominent agricultural export product. As the sector continues to evolve, stakeholders are focused on building on this momentum to further enhance the competitiveness and reputation of Tunisian dates in the global market.
Key points
- Tunisia's date exports exceed 1 billion dinars for the first time in the 2026/2025 season.
- The quantity of dates exported reached around 160,000 tons, up from approximately 125,000 tons in the previous season.
- Tunisian date exports are expanding into new markets, particularly in Asia and the Americas.
