Tunisian dates are the best in the world, renowned for their sweetness and sugary flavor. They are often eaten raw and are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Additionally, Deglet Nour dates are rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, making them beneficial in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
However, Tunisian date export revenues from the beginning of the season in October 2024 to the end of June 2025 decreased by 3.8% to 771.7 million dinars compared to the same period in the previous season, according to data published by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI).
The average price during the first nine months of the current season was 6.35 dinars per kg, with the “Deglet Nour” variety priced at 7.05 dinars per kg.
In June 2025, the average price of dates reached 5.97 dinars per kg, marking a slight decline of 0.5% compared to June 2024.
Monitoring of Tunisian date exports during the first nine months of the 2024/2025 season also revealed a 5.7% drop in exported quantities to 121,500 tons. The “Deglet Nour” variety alone accounted for 84.2% of total export volume.
In terms of destination, the European Union imported the largest share (43.4% of export volume), followed by Africa (24.2%) and Asia (20.7%).
Morocco was the top importer of Tunisian dates, accounting for 19.2% of exports in the first nine months of the 2024/2025 season, followed by Italy (11.8%) and France (8%).
By the end of June 2025, around 6,700 tons of organic dates had been exported, valued at approximately 59.5 million dinars, a decline of 8.1% in volume and 26.4% in value.
Organic dates accounted for no more than 5.5% of total date exports (all types combined).
The average price of organic dates was 8.90 dinars per kg, varying by variety:
7.89 dinars/kg for conventional organic dates, 9.93 dinars/kg for organic date byproducts and 2.94 dinars/kg for industrial-grade organic dates
Germany remains the top destination for organic dates, representing 30% of export volume, followed by the Netherlands (12%) and Belgium (12%).
Setting reference prices for date exports
In this context, the Tunisian Union of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries (UTAP) and the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), represented by the National Chamber of Fruit, Vegetable, and Date Exporters, agreed to set reference prices for date purchases by exporters for the 2024/2025 season.
The Interprofessional Date Group under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries emphasized during a working session the importance of Tunisian dates meeting export quality standards.
The prices were set as follows:
“Deglet Nour Chamroukh Quality” dates (large sizes): 5.200 dinars/kg (a 4% increase from the previous season), provided that bulk rates do not exceed 10% and date moth infestation remains below 5%.
“Deglet Nour Chamroukh Quality, Category 1” dates (medium sizes): 4.500 dinars/kg (a 2.27% increase from the previous season), with the same conditions on bulk rates and infestation.
