As Ramadan approaches, the date again becomes a “thermometer” product: a cultural symbol, a staple, but also a global commodity where value does not always follow volumes. A recent panorama of FAO and WITS data highlights a clear Arab dominance… and a Tunisian paradox: Tunisia remains far behind the giants in production, but ranks among the very top in export earnings.
In 2024, the map of world production confirms a reality: Arab countries structure the supply, with a leading trio far ahead of the rest (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria), followed by Iran.
Tunisia appears in the “top 10”, but on a much more modest scale: 400 219 tonnes, or about five times less than the leading Saudi.
That differential matters: it determines the ability to flood the market with volume, thus influencing prices in the standardized segments.
The Tunisian paradox: 9th producer, but 3rd global exporter by value
That is where Tunisia stands out. In 2024, WITS data rank Tunisia as the 3rd global exporter by value (US$307.42 million), behind Saudi Arabia (US$452.21 million) and Israel (US$312.67 million).
In plain terms: Tunisia does not win the volume battle, but weighs heavily in the value battle. Relative to exported volumes, this suggests a pricing position higher than mass exporters. Based on 2024 figures, the implicit unit value is around US$3.15/kg for Tunisia, versus about US$1.29/kg for Saudi Arabia and US$5.16/kg for Israel (calculated from WITS data).
Another useful reading: with 97,594.3 tonnes exported out of 400,219 tonnes produced, the implicit export effort is about a quarter of production.
Where Tunisian dates go: Morocco and Europe, the central axis
The 2024 outlets confirm a positive dependency on two zones: Morocco and Europe. Morocco alone captures US$56.42 million (nearly a fifth of 2024 export earnings), ahead of Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
This is no accident that the European Union is the world’s leading importer by value (US$444.18 million): Tunisia is naturally positioned to serve this market, particularly in higher-quality segments.
At the global level, two other signals deserve attention:
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India is number 2 importer (US$286.18 million; 526 596 tonnes): it is a high-volume market, very price-sensitive.
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Morocco is the number 3 global importer (US$247.77 million; 138 450 tonnes): Tunisia already plays a major commercial role there.
Why Tunisia “sells at a premium”: variety, quality, segmentation
Tunisia’ strength is evident in its product structure. The Deglet Nour variety historically forms the backbone of Tunisian exports: ONAGRI already indicated that it accounted for 80.8% of exported quantities in a reference period (2022), a scale that illustrates the country’s specialization.
On the international scene, Deglet Nour is also described as highly sought after on the European market, which reinforces the strategic interest of the Europe/Maghreb axis for Tunisia.
In other words, Tunisia is not merely a producer: it is a specialized exporter of a signature product, capable of extracting value.
What Tunisia must lock down in 2026
The 2024 ranking is flattering, but it also creates a requirement: to protect the value advantage in a market where volumes are rising rapidly for several competitors.
1) Secure the “price” advantage against mass exporters
When a player exports very large volumes at a lower unit value, it can weigh on international prices. Therefore, Tunisia must preserve its premium segments (sorting, calibres, regularity, traceability) rather than entering into a price war.
2) Reduce the risk of “concentrated markets”
The Morocco + EU pairing is a driver, but excessive dependence can weaken receipts in the face of logistical, regulatory, or intensified competition shocks. 2024 data already show concentration among the main client countries.
3) Accelerate the move up the value chain on higher value-added products
The battle will increasingly be fought on: retail packaging, derivative products (paste, syrup, ingredients), labels (organic, quality) and origin storytelling. This is how Tunisia can defend its unit value and differentiate itself sustainably, even with production lower than the giants.
4) Strategically explore high-volume markets
India (526,596 tonnes imported in 2024) and Indonesia are in the top 10 global importers: these are markets where Tunisia can advance by segments (urban premium, modern distribution, e-commerce), without sacrificing its margins.
Key takeaways
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Production 2024 : Tunisia is 9th worldwide with 400,219 tonnes (compared with 1.92 million for Saudi Arabia, 1.75 million for Egypt).
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Exports 2024 (HS 080410) : Tunisia is 3rd worldwide by value with US$307.42 million for 97,594.3 tonnes.
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Main outlets (2024) : Morocco (US$56.42 million), Germany (US$28.28 million), France (US$22.89 million), Spain (US$21.45 million), Italy (US$18.32 million).
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Key global demand markets : the European Union is the number 1 importer (US$444.18 million), India number 2 (US$286.18 million), Morocco number 3 (US$247.77 million).
Adel Khelifi
