Tunisia's date sector has achieved a significant milestone, with export revenues surpassing 1 billion dinars for the first time. This accomplishment is attributed to the export of approximately 160,000 tons of dates, primarily of the Deglet Noor variety. The success of the sector is a result of the efforts of the Tunisian Date Professional Association, which aims to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of Tunisian dates in traditional and promising markets.
The Tunisian Date Professional Association has launched a new promotional program for the 2026-2027 season, focusing on preserving the country's date production and promoting its consumption domestically. The program takes into account the challenges facing the date sector, including climate change, increased competition in international markets, and rising production, transportation, and logistics costs. The association's efforts aim to support the sector's growth and development.
The new promotional program includes several key components, such as continuous monitoring of the export season, enhanced coordination among stakeholders, and support for the competitiveness of Tunisian dates. The program also prioritizes the domestic market, with plans to establish direct sales points from producers to consumers in various regions of the country. This initiative has already received positive feedback from farmers and consumers.
The association plans to establish sales spaces for dates directly from producers to consumers in two phases, one immediately after the harvest season and the other before Ramadan. This aims to provide dates at affordable prices, bring the product closer to citizens, and encourage consumption. The program also includes participation in local, regional, and national events related to the sector.
In addition to fresh dates, the program focuses on date derivatives, which are considered a promising area for creating added value and diversifying Tunisia's export offerings. The association will participate in the International Food Industries Salon in Africa (IFSA 2027) to promote date derivatives and establish new relationships with international market players.
The association's strategic approach aims to diversify products and markets, particularly in light of growing global demand for natural and healthy food products. The program also includes a focus on developing exports of date-based products, such as date paste, date syrup, and date powder. This effort is expected to contribute to the growth and development of the sector.
The Tunisian Date Professional Association is preparing a strategic study for the date sector until 2055, addressing the sector's specificities, future challenges, and ways to address them. The association also plans to establish a three-year promotional plan with clear objectives for the domestic market and external markets, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of promotional efforts.
Key points
- Tunisia's date exports exceed 1 billion dinars, driven by 160,000 tons of dates, mostly Deglet Noor variety.
- The Tunisian Date Professional Association launches a new promotional program to support the sector's growth and development.
- The program focuses on promoting date consumption domestically and enhancing the competitiveness of Tunisian dates in international markets.
