The 2025/2026 season for Egyptian Medjool dates is about to begin. Growers are celebrating a significant increase in volume and enhanced quality compared to last season, thanks to steady growth in cultivated areas and clement weather conditions this year. This is according to Ramadan Elsayyad, export manager of Palm Hills Dates.
© Ramadan Elsayyad
Looking back on this year's production conditions, Ramadan says: "The weather has improved considerably and we haven't encountered any problems, unlike the sandstorms we experienced last season. Pollination went very well. It is important to mention that growers have gained solid experience and in-depth knowledge over time in terms of choosing production areas and adopting proper farming operations such as irrigation, fertigation, and fertilization. The expansion of acreage is generally well thought out and implemented."
However, industry representatives indicate that the sizes obtained this season are mainly medium and large, with fewer jumbo and super jumbo dates. Ramadan confirms: "The most common sizes this season are medium, large, and jumbo, ranging from 14 to 23 grams per fruit."
According to the exporter, Egypt's Medjool industry is rapidly approaching the 100,000-tonne mark in annual volumes. He adds, "Nationally, we have gone from 20,000 tonnes last season to around 50,000 tonnes this season. It is only a matter of time, a few years at most, before we reach the symbolic threshold of 100,000 tonnes, which reflects the growth of the sector and its attractiveness to growers, as well as the favorable reception of Egyptian Medjool dates on the international market."
© Ramadan Elsayyad
The upcoming season looks promising from a commercial standpoint, with Egypt occupying a stronger position than its competitors, according to Ramadan. He explains: "Egyptian dates are taking full advantage of the growing popularity of Medjool dates among consumers around the world. Of course, other origins are also stepping up and doing a good job, but the competition is fairly calm since these origins have low volumes compared to Egypt, have different seasonality like Namibia, or have geopolitical issues like Israel."
"At Palm Hills Dates, for instance, in addition to our traditional markets in Europe and North America, which maintain strong demand, we are exporting Medjool dates for the first time this season to Japan, Australia, and Argentina. We also anticipate increased export volumes to China. We continue to strengthen our position in the European market this season by contracting a new distribution hub in the Netherlands, close to Schiphol Airport, which gives our dates an edge in the European market and brings them closer to shelves. New exporters in Egypt are joining the sector every year as well and knocking on the doors of several new markets," Ramadan continues.
© Ramadan Elsayyad
According to its export manager, entering the East Asian market is an important step for Palm Hills Dates: "It is a market where Medjool dates are already well known and sought after. We are entering it this season through a Japanese company that visited our stand at Fruit Logistica and helped us greatly in understanding the needs of this market. The consumer trend toward healthy foods in Japan continues unabated, and Medjool dates are perceived as such. We also understood that Japanese consumers have a preference for large sizes. Our importer in Japan prefers a B2B approach based on shipping the dates in bulk, with kernels, then cleaning and repackaging them locally."
"After setting foot in Australia and Japan this season, we plan to further explore the markets of Southeast Asia and Oceania and will be participating for the first time this year in the SIAL Interfood trade show in Jakarta," Ramadan concludes.
Ramadan Elsayyad
Palm Hills Dates
Tel: +20 102 008 4117
Email: [email protected]
www.palmhillsdates.com
