Competition is intensifying in the date market as harvests in North Africa take place between September and April, depending on the region. The focus is on the Moroccan market, the world's second-largest importer of dates after India.
Mohamed Shalash, an Egyptian exporter, says, "The Moroccan market is undoubtedly the most attractive in terms of sales volumes. It is a market that imports dates throughout the year, so our sales are not heavily contingent on the month of Ramadan, unlike other countries where date consumption growth remains slow."
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"Moroccan demand for dates is price-sensitive," according to Shalash. He adds, "The price argument remains prevalent among importers when choosing origins and varieties. This is especially true given the economic conditions and soaring food prices. This is why Egypt has gained a steadily increasing market share, as our prices are 50% lower than other origins such as Tunisia."
"However, we are seeing a new trend where consumers are increasingly turning to premium varieties. Thus, the best-selling Egyptian varieties in Morocco are Wadi and Dakhla, with an increasingly marked trend towards Medjool dates," Shalash continues.
"At El Rawda El Sharifa, we have been established in Morocco since 2015 with a local company and team, in constant and close contact with traders in Derb Milan, the country's main date market. We will continue to serve this market with consistent volume forecasts and no price increases this season," Shalash concludes.
For more information:
Mohamed Shalash
El Rawda El Sharifa
Tel: +212611655317
Email: [email protected]
