Morocco's Declining Dominance in Tunisian Date Imports
Morocco has secured its position as the leading importer of Tunisian dates during the first seven months of the 2025/2026 campaign, accounting for approximately 14.6% of the total export volumes, as reported by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI) in Tunisia. However, this achievement marks a substantial decrease from the previous campaign, where Morocco absorbed nearly 22% of Tunisian date exports. This shift occurs amidst a broader context of increasing Tunisian date exports, which have risen by 5.6% to reach 113.9 thousand tons, valued at around 725.6 million dinars (approximately 218 million euros). The Deglet Ennour variety predominantly drives these exports, constituting 83.9% of the total volume.
Impact of Import Quotas on Trade Dynamics
In January 2026, the Moroccan authorities reinstated import quotas on dates to bolster the local agricultural sector, a move that significantly disrupted Tunisian date exports. This surprising regulatory change caught Tunisian operators off guard, as they were accustomed to a more fluid access to the Moroccan market. Ghazi Rouissi, CEO of House of Dates, expressed concerns over this unprecedented trade stalemate, stating, "We were taken aback by the reactivation of an old Moroccan regulation on date import restrictions communicated to us on December 24. The situation is now at a standstill," he remarked, highlighting that nearly 15,000 tons of dates were initially stuck at the port of Casablanca, although they are now being gradually and partially cleared through customs.
These restrictions have contributed to the decline in Morocco's share of Tunisian date imports, despite remaining the top market ahead of Italy (12.1%) and Germany (10.4%). The European Union continues to be the primary destination for Tunisian date exports, accounting for 47.5%, followed by Asia with 21.4% and Africa at 19.9%. This evolving trade landscape underscores the complexities and challenges faced by both Moroccan and Tunisian markets in navigating import regulations and maintaining trade relationships.
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
