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Top Sweet Dates Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Plate of sweet dates
Sweet dates
In 2024, global sales of exported sweet dates from all countries totaled US$2.63 billion.

Sweet dates exports increased by an overall average 24.7% since 2020 when export sales for dates sourced from palm trees were $2.11 billion.

From 2023 to 2024, the dollar value of exported sweet dates grew by 2.9% starting from $2.55 billion.

The edible sweet fruit called a date or date palm is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Consumers eat dry or soft dates as is or pitted and stuffed with such fillings as almonds, walnuts, pecans or cream cheese. Pitted dates may also be glazed with syrup to create a snack food or as tasty ingredients for cakes, cookies or puddings.

The 5 biggest exporters of sweet dates (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Iran) generated 60.4% of all international sweet date exported during 2024.

From a continental perspective, countries in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported sweet dates during 2024 with shipments valued at $1.55 billion or 59.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Africa (27.3%) trailed by Europe (9.3%) and North America (4.3%). Tinier percentages originated from Latin America (0.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.03%) mostly Australia.

Note that 60.5% of globally exported dates come from nations categorized as the Middle East.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of sweet dates in 2024 are India, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, France and Türkiye. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought two-fifths (40.4%) of globally imported sweet dates.

Those percentages suggest the total 103 dates exporters (60.4% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 201 buying countries, islands and territories with the top 5 importers consuming 40.4% as specified above.

As for the global imports total, 44.8% of sweet dates was delivered to Asian countries ahead of importers in Europe (31.9%), Africa (139%), North America (7.8%), Oceania (1%) mostly Australia and New Zealand, then Latin America (0.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by sweet dates importers was $1,248 per ton in 2024. That dollar amount reflects a flatlining -0.3% drop from the estimated average tonnage rate of $1,252 for 2023.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080410 for fresh or dried dates.

Top Sweet Dates Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sweet dates during 2024.

  1. Saudi Arabia: US$452.2 million (17.2% of total exported dates)
  2. Tunisia: $360.8 million (13.7%)
  3. Israel: $312.7 million (11.9%)
  4. United Arab Emirates: $264.9 million (10.1%)
  5. Iran: $196.7 million (7.5%)
  6. Algeria: $169.1 million (6.4%)
  7. Egypt: $105.6 million (4%)
  8. Iraq: $97.7 million (3.7%)
  9. Netherlands: $96.1 million (3.7%)
  10. United States: $80.5 million (3.1%)
  11. Palestine: $60.9 million (2.3%)
  12. France: $53.2 million (2%)
  13. Pakistan: $50.2 million (1.9%)
  14. Jordan: $46.8 million (1.8%)
  15. Türkiye: $34.4 million (1.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90.7% of globally exported dates in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing dates exporters since 2023 were: Tunisia (up 40.6%), France (up 26.7%), Algeria (up 26.4%) and Egypt (up 19.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported dates sales were: Iran (down -42.2% from 2023), Iraq (down -21.2%), Jordan (down -20.6%), United Arab Emirates (down -19.4%) and Palestine (down -11.3%).

Top Sweet Dates Imports by Country

Overall spending on imported sweet dates inflated by 28.4% over the 5-year period starting in 2020, with a 4.6% year-over-year improvement since 2023.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of sweet dates imported during 2024.

  1. India: US$290.1 million (12.1% of total imported dates)
  2. Morocco: $247.9 million (10.3%)
  3. United Arab Emirates: $196.8 million (8.2%)
  4. France: $124.5 million (5.2%)
  5. Türkiye: $112.4 million (4.7%)
  6. Netherlands: $110.9 million (4.6%)
  7. United States: $98.8 million (4.1%)
  8. United Kingdom: $98.8 million (4.1%)
  9. Germany: $97 million (4%)
  10. Indonesia: $79.7 million (3.3%)
  11. Canada: $71.4 million (3%)
  12. Malaysia: $56.9 million (2.4%)
  13. Italy: $45.8 million (1.9%)
  14. Spain: $45 million (1.9%)
  15. Russia: $41.1 million (1.7%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 71.3% of globally imported dates in 2024.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing dates importers since 2023 were: United Kingdom (up 28.4%), Türkiye (up 27.9%), United States of America (up 25.9%) and the Netherlands (up 25.2%).

Three countries posted declines in their imported dates sales, namely: United Arab Emirates (down -8.8% from 2023), Russia (down -4.4%) and Indonesia (down -1%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Sweet Dates

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imported sweet dates was US$1,248 per ton.

The average tonnage charge for the number one sweet dates importer, India, was much lower at $552 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported sweet dates in 2024.

  1. Niger: US$89 per ton (up 2.3% from 2023)
  2. Burkina Faso: $106 per ton (down -69.8%)
  3. Paraguay: $121 per ton (down -22.4%)
  4. Mali: $146 per ton (down -3.9%)
  5. Pakistan: $225 per ton (down -28.1%)
  6. Ghana: $293 per ton (down -60.2%)
  7. Tanzania: $302 per ton (up 7.5%)
  8. Lesotho: $401 per ton (up 13.6%)
  9. Kazakhstan: $426 per ton (down -6%)
  10. Kenya: $466 per ton (up 10.2%)
  11. Senegal: $489 per ton (down -0.2%)
  12. Togo: $536 per ton (down -39.4%)
  13. Gambia: $541 per ton (down -2.7%)
  14. India: $552 per ton (up 1.3%)
  15. mainland China: $555 per ton (up 23.6%)

Experiencing double-digit reductions in average unit price paid per ton for sweet dates from 2023 to 2024 were low-cost importers Burkina Faso (down -69.8%), Ghana (down -60.2%), Togo (down -39.4%), Pakistan (down -28.1%) and Paraguay (down -22.4%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported sweet dates.

  1. Macao: US$28,000 per ton (up 187.2% from 2023)
  2. Gibraltar: $12,000 per ton (down -20%)
  3. Bermuda: $10,308 per ton (up 12.6%)
  4. Nigeria: $9,010 per ton (up 223.5%)
  5. Aruba: $9,000 per ton (up 100%)
  6. Guatemala: $8,967 per ton (up 1%)
  7. Honduras: $8,455 per ton (up 5.7%)
  8. Jamaica: $7,800 per ton (up 91.8%)
  9. French Polynesia: $7,250 per ton (up 70.6%)
  10. Faroe Islands: $6,722 per ton (up 27.7%)
  11. Costa Rica: $6,673 per ton (up 0.8%)
  12. Greenland: $6,000 per ton (up 4%)
  13. Saint Pierre/Miquelon: $6,000 per ton (up 50%)
  14. Namibia: $5,929 per ton (up 45.2%)
  15. New Caledonia: $5,810 per ton (up 125.1%)

The greatest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2024 compared to 2023 were experienced by importers in Nigeria (up 223.5%), Macao (up 187.2%), New Caledonia (up 125.1%), Aruba (up 100%) and Jamaica (up 91.8%).

See also Top Persimmons Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Pineapples Exports by Country, Top Saffron Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Pears Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Figs Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Sweet Dates Showroom. Accessed on December 8, 2025

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on December 8, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on December 8, 2025

Wikipedia, Date palm. Accessed on December 8, 2025