The 2014-2015 date season in Tunisia looks promising, Noureddine Aguerbi, Director General of agri-food for the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines declared that ''previsions expect a good date harvest of about 220,000 tons compared to 193,000 tons last season, i.e. a 13% increase''. Favourable weather is to thank for the increase. According to the Director General, if the climate conditions remain and that there is not too much heat in September, the quality of the harvest should fulfil expectations.
He indicated that half of the 135,000 tons harvested in 2013 of Deglet Nour dates were commercialised on the local market and 10,000 tons were stocked for the month of Ramadan. He also explains that ''the unusual growth in prices of dates seen currently, is in fact the result of an imbalance between the offer and the demand on one hand, and the high cost of stocking operations on the other''.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Tunisian date exports between October- July 2014 (approx. 79,000 tons) decreased 13.8% compared to the previous season (approx. 93,000 tons).