The recent restrictions imposed by Morocco on the importation of Tunisian dates are beginning to divert a significant portion of the Tunisian date industry away from its primary market. Exporters are now ramping up their search for new opportunities in Asia, particularly in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Morocco has traditionally been the largest market for Tunisian dates, but the upcoming campaign is set to be more complex than before. Mohamed Akermi, an exporter interviewed by FreshPlaza, indicated that his Moroccan clients are bracing for the continuation of these restrictions. According to his insights, Moroccan imports are unlikely to resume until the end of January, and even then, they would be subject to permits and quotas. This anticipated scenario is significant enough to prompt Tunisian exporters to actively seek alternative markets.
This situation prolongs the difficulties faced during the previous campaign when Morocco reactivated an old regulation governing imports, a decision that caught Tunisian exporters off guard and resulted in the blockage of approximately 15,000 tons of dates in Casablanca. The stakes are high for the Tunisian date sector; during the first five months of the 2025-2026 campaign, Morocco absorbed 17.1% of Tunisian date exports, surpassing all other individual markets.
Deglet Nour Seeks New Markets
In light of this dependence on the Moroccan market, exporters are now increasingly turning their attention towards Asia. Akermi notes a significant intensification of commercial efforts and participation in specialized trade shows as the new season approaches. The Deglet Nour variety already enjoys a strong reputation in Malaysia and Indonesia, and producers aim to leverage these markets to increase their volumes and penetrate additional Asian countries with substantial Muslim populations.
These new markets also present an advantage: sales can continue after Ramadan due to the availability of packaged and pitted dates, whereas demand during the holy month is typically focused on dates sold on the branch. This shift is particularly noteworthy for an industry that has relied on Moroccan consumers for years. In the previous campaign, Morocco accounted for more than 20% of the volume of dates exported by Tunisia. If the announced restrictions remain in place, a portion of the Deglet Nour that traditionally made its way to Morocco will likely be redirected to Asian and European markets.
As reported by bladi.net.
