Egypt is the world’s largest producer of dates — around 1.7 million tonnes a year — yet it exports only a small share of that crop. That gap is the single biggest opportunity in Egyptian agri-export: with the global date trade worth about USD 2.4 billion in 2024 and growing roughly 20% a year, and rising international demand for premium Medjool and semi-dry varieties, Egypt is positioned to convert production leadership into export leadership. This report compiles the production, exports, destinations, varieties and the opportunity into one citable reference, updated annually. For the wider picture see the produce export statistics hub and the State of Egyptian Agri-Export 2026.

Egypt’s export markets are led by Morocco, Indonesia and Turkey, with the Gulf, Asia and Europe offering room to grow. The lever is variety: shifting more of the crop toward export-friendly semi-dry types (such as Siwi) and premium Medjool. The figures below set out where Egypt’s dates stand and where the trade can go.

2026 edition · Last Updated: June 2026. Figures use FAO/official production data and ITC trade data cross-checked with IndexBox and trade press; export-specific figures are flagged for confirmation. See Sources & Methodology.

At a Glance

The headline numbers, ready to quote:

• Egypt is the world’s #1 date producer, at around 1.7 million tonnes a year.
• Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria together account for about 49% of global date production.
• Egypt exports only a small share of its crop — the sector’s biggest growth opportunity.
• The global date trade was worth ~USD 2.4 billion in 2024, growing roughly 20% a year.
• Top export markets by value: Morocco, Indonesia and Turkey.
• The growth levers: premium Medjool and export-friendly semi-dry varieties (only ~20% of the crop today).

Egypt in the Global Date Market

Egypt leads the world in date production. It out-produces Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran and Iraq, and its palm count and output have grown steadily. But global date trade is concentrated among origins that grow more export-grade dry and semi-dry fruit, which is why Egypt’s share of exports lags its share of production.

The Production–Export Gap

Egypt’s defining date story is the distance between production (number one in the world) and exports (still a small share of the crop). Much of the harvest is soft, high-moisture fruit consumed domestically and less suited to long-haul export. The path to closing the gap is well understood in the sector: expand semi-dry and dry varieties that travel well, invest in grading, packing and food-safety certification, and target the fast-growing premium segment. Doing so would let the world’s biggest producer claim a matching place in the USD 2.4 billion global trade.

Top Export Destinations

Egypt’s date exports go mainly to nearby and high-consumption markets, with significant headroom in the Gulf, Asia and Europe.

Source: IndexBox (top markets Morocco, Indonesia, Turkey). Demand peaks around Ramadan.

Varieties

Egypt grows the full spectrum from soft to dry. Soft varieties dominate the crop and the domestic market; semi-dry and premium types drive the export opportunity.

The Medjool & Semi-Dry Opportunity

Two levers turn Egypt’s production lead into export growth. First, Medjool: international interest in large, premium Medjool dates is rising fast, and Egyptian Medjool plantings are expanding to capture it. Second, semi-dry varieties (Siwi and others), which currently make up only about a fifth of the crop but travel well and meet broad global demand — the sector has called for a dedicated council and a strategy to scale them. Both shift Egypt’s mix toward what the world buys, in a trade growing ~20% a year.

Prices

Date prices vary widely by variety and grade — premium Medjool commands a multiple of bulk semi-dry and soft dates. Egypt’s cost base keeps semi-dry Siwi competitive, while Medjool targets the premium tier.

Prices are indicative market references, not offers. FOB depends on variety, grade, calibre, packing, destination and timing.

Production & Supply Base

Egypt’s date palms span the Nile Delta and Valley, Upper Egypt, the New Valley, and the oases — Siwa is the heartland of semi-dry Siwi dates. Egypt has one of the world’s largest palm populations, and continued planting (including Medjool) underpins both its production lead and its export ambitions.

Season & Logistics

2026 Outlook

The outlook is one of large untapped potential. A 20%-a-year global trade, rising Medjool demand, expanding premium plantings and a clear strategy to grow semi-dry varieties all favour Egyptian exporters who invest in grading, packing and certification. The swing factors are variety mix, food-safety compliance for new markets, and competition from established date exporters. The producer that closes the production–export gap stands to gain the most.

What Buyers Should Know

Egypt offers the world’s deepest date supply base and a competitive cost position across semi-dry Siwi and premium Medjool. The practical levers for 2026: choose the variety and grade for your market (Medjool premium vs Siwi bulk), specify packing, confirm food-safety and phytosanitary documentation, and plan around the August–November harvest and Ramadan demand. PEI Trade can source across Egyptian date varieties and advise on grade, packing, ports and Incoterms.

PEI Trade Desk Data

The original layer in this report: representative PEI Trade FOB quotes by variety and grade. Figures are indicative and to be confirmed against current desk records before publication.

Sources & Methodology

Method. This report compiles FAO/official production data and ITC trade data, cross-checked with IndexBox and trade press, plus PEI Trade desk data as the original layer. Egypt’s world-leading production (~1.7 million tonnes) is well established; precise export volume and value are smaller and reported inconsistently, so export-specific figures are flagged for confirmation rather than stated as precise totals. The global-trade value (~USD 2.4 billion, 2024) and ~20% growth are from trade-press market sizing.

• Production rank & share: IndexBox; FAO.
• Global trade size, Medjool & semi-dry opportunity: FreshPlaza.
• Top export markets: IndexBox (Morocco, Indonesia, Turkey).
• Original layer: PEI Trade desk data.

Edition: 2026 · Compiled: June 2026 · Update cadence: annually.

How to Cite This Report

Reusing a figure? Please cite it and link to this page as the source.

PEI Trade (2026). Egyptian Dates Export Report 2026. PEI Trade. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-dates-export-report-2026/

• APA: PEI Trade. (2026). Egyptian dates export report 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-dates-export-report-2026/
• Plain text: “Egyptian Dates Export Report 2026,” PEI Trade, peitrade.com.
• Press & data enquiries: sales@peitrade.com · +201099111918.

Egyptian Dates Exports — FAQ

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Browse our dates product page, or see the full produce export statistics, the pomegranate report and the State of Egyptian Agri-Export 2026.