World date production keeps increasing at a steady pace, reaching over 1.1 million metric tons in the 2019/2020 season. In the chart below, you see world date production reported by INC Statistical Yearbook 2019.
The countries with the highest volumes of date production in 2020 were Egypt (1.6M tonnes), Saudi Arabia (1.6M tonnes) and Iran (1.3M tonnes), with a combined 49% share of global production.
The top importer in 2020 was India with an import value of USD 225M. The top exporter in 2020 was Israel with an export value of USD 238M.
Per Capita Consumption of Dates
Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan have been named as the world’s largest consumers of dates, with per capita consumption ranging from a minimum of 2.5 kg in Pakistan to a maximum of 34 kg in Saudi Arabia.
In other words, the major consumers of dates in the world are the major producers of that product.
Our market research team has found that date consumption is growing significantly in East Asia.
Rising Awareness about Health Benefits of Dates is Driving the Market
Dates have an excellent nutrition profile. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Dates are a popular food across the Middle East. They are a sign of hospitability, served both in greeting and post-meal. Further, with the emerging trend of healthy snacking, consumption is rising in other parts of the world as well.
Consumption is also rising in European countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. European consumers are searching for healthier alternatives to snack between meals or for snacks that can replace meals.
Younger consumers are switching from sweets such as candies and chocolate snacks to low-sugar alternatives. Thus, considering these factors, the date market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.
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