Tunisia records record date production of 404,000 tonnes as export revenues exceed 1 billion dinars

Tunisia’s date production reached a record 404,000 tonnes during the past season, while date export revenues exceeded 1 billion dinars, Dorsaf Ben Ahmed, in charge of the General Directorate of Agricultural Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and chair of the Marketing and Promotion Committee of the International Dates Council, said.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the international workshop on “Global Marketing and Promotion of Dates: Best Practices and Success Models”, held in Tunis on September 30 and October 1, 2026, Ben Ahmed said exports during the past season had so far reached around 155,000 tonnes and were still ongoing.

Slight decline expected this season

Regarding the current season, Ben Ahmed said production estimates point to a slight decline compared with the previous season.

She stressed, however, that production levels remain satisfactory, noting that the decline is linked, among other factors, to climate change and the natural alternation in palm production from one season to another.

Tunisian dates present in more than 94 markets

Ben Ahmed said Tunisia is working to strengthen the positioning of its dates in international markets, particularly the European market, while also diversifying export destinations and increasing the added value of the product.

She highlighted Deglet Nour as one of Tunisia’s best-known date varieties, with strong demand both domestically and internationally.

She added that the Marketing and Promotion Committee of the International Dates Council, chaired by Tunisia, provides a framework for strengthening the presence of dates in international markets amid rising global production and growing competition among producing countries.

Tunisia is seeking to consolidate its position in the European market while opening promising new markets, including India, which absorbs significant quantities of dates.

Efforts are also being made to strengthen Tunisia’s presence in Asian markets, particularly Indonesia and China. Tunisian dates are currently available in more than 94 markets worldwide.

A joint strategy to promote dates

Ben Ahmed stressed the importance of preserving existing markets while exploring new and more distant destinations.

She said joint efforts within the International Dates Council could support member countries in this area and enable Tunisia to play a greater role in promoting dates globally.

New requirements linked to carbon footprints

Addressing changes in international markets, Ben Ahmed noted that the European market is moving toward new requirements related to carbon footprints, making it necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this context, she highlighted the potential benefits of traditional and simple practices used in date production that could contribute to reducing emissions.

The Marketing and Promotion Committee is also working toward a joint strategy based on sharing the experiences of member countries and considering the adoption of a unified brand at the level of the International Dates Council.

The approach aims to strengthen complementarity between the different varieties of dates produced by member countries, rather than focusing solely on competition, while supporting their collective presence in global markets.

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