For several months, a call to boycott Algerian dates has been circulating on Moroccan social networks, fueled by persistent diplomatic tensions between the two countries. This campaign seems to have reinforced the attractiveness of Egyptian and Tunisian dates, perceived as a quality alternative. The months leading up to Ramadan (in March this year) see imports breaking records.
Thus, at the end of December 2024, Morocco represented 19.7% of Tunisian date exports, far ahead of Italy (7.5%) and Turkey (6.8%).
Driven by Moroccan demand, Tunisian exports are up 11.4% of revenues at the end of December 2024, reaching 342.2 million dinars (MD). According to the National Agricultural Observatory (ONAGRI), this dynamic is accompanied by a 10.5% increase in exported volumes, which stood at 51,300 tonnes during the first three months of the 2024 campaign/ 2025.
-As a reminder, in 2023, Morocco ranked as the second largest importer of dates in the world after India. Dates are the leading category of fruits and vegetables imported into the country, despite the increase in national production. The main provenances include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.
Morocco
