2.11. Dates

Following the prior yearu2019s upward trend and due to new plantings, total production in season 2022/23 is anticipated to grow by 5% from 2021/22. Forecasted at 1.165 million metric tons, top producersu2019 highest increases are expected for Algeria (+13%), Morocco (+8%), Saudi Arabia and UAE (+7%), and Egypt (+4%).

Consumption is growing based on dates health benefits and availability in the market the whole year-round. The purchasing power of the final consumer is being affected by the increasing inflation rate, thus, a switch to cheaper varieties or lighter packs might be observed. On the other hand, for date ingredients like powder, liquid sugar or paste, consumption is rising at double digits, mainly for organic.