Date Palm Market Outlook and Production Trends 2025

Date Palm Market Size, Share and Growth Insights 2034

The global date palm market size was estimated at USD 9.50 billion in 2024 and is predicted to increase from USD 9.84 billion in 2025 to nearly USD 13.53 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.60% over the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The traditional, cultural, economic, and healthcare significance of date palm and dates in several countries in different regions supports the applications of these products in a variety of food and beverages.

Key Highlights

• By region, the Middle East and Africa dominated the date palm market in 2024, due to the significant contribution of the Middle East and African countries in delivering economic nutrition and driving global date palm production. 
• By region, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR, due to supportive initiatives by governments across the Asian Pacific countries. 
• By region, North America is a notably growing area, driven by the supportive measures by governments towards the fruit sector. 
• By product type, the dried dates segment dominated the market share in 2024, due to their rich nutritional advantages. 
• By product type, the date syrup segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by superb nutritional health benefits due to the presence of several healthy components. 
• By form, the whole dates segment dominated the market share in 2024, driven by their major role in diabetes management, improved brain functionality, and several other health advantages. 
• By form, the chopped dates segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by their ideal role as antioxidants, supporting improved heart health, and many other health benefits.
• By application, the food and beverage applications segment dominated the market share in 2024, due to the utilization of dates in various food and beverage products. 
• By application, the dietary supplements and nutraceuticals segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the importance of dates as value-added products for dietary and nutraceutical purposes.

Industry Coverage

Market Overview

What Made Date Palm the Rich Agricultural Crop across the Globe? 

The date palm holds a strong historical and cultural significance, which helps the growth of the date palm market. In North Africa, date palm is used to make huts while the wood is used as rafters. Date palms are also used to make baskets, screens, mats, and fans by using their matured palm leaves. The fruit of date palm represents the symbol of energy staple and dessert, and it is considered as the oldest harvested fruit in history. Date palm cultivation is expanding globally, especially in regions where this crop production has recently been introduced. The wide acceptance, popularity, and demand for dates as the edible sweet fruits of date palm trees drives the expansion of date palm cultivation globally.

• In November 2024, Morocco reported its new initiatives to strengthen the date palm industry by signing six new agreements at the 13th annual International Date Fair (SIDATTES 2024) in Erfoud. (Source: Morocco World News-MWN)
• In June 2025, researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced the development of a robotic system for date palm harvesting. (Source: Fresh Plaza)
• In September 2024, Iraqi date farmers fought a drought to protect the national treasure in the form of date palm and its bounty as national icons. (Source: FRANCE 24)

Versatile Product Range by EMIRATES DATES

(Source: Emirates Dates)

Date Palm Market Trends

Which Rich Sources Contributed to the Increased Popularity of Date Palm Cultivation? 

• Effective Marketing of Data Products: It is potentially possible due to the significant contribution of stakeholders in the production, processing, safety, quality control, supply chain, and marketing. The direct marketing by farmers is supported by the government, which reduces the need for intermediaries. This strategy also increases the returns to farmers in the fruit industry. Farmers are enabled to market their products with minimum marketing costs. The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) established marketing infrastructure such as fresh fruit outlets and farmers’ markets. The price of the product is affected by variety, season, quality, type of packaging, and market location.
• Implementation of Biosecurity Standards: Date palm producers are required to implement good biosecurity standards by using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). This helps to maintain the environmental sustainability of date palm plantation operational processes. The applications of GAPs will encourage competency and enable farmers to utilize better agricultural practices such as biodiversity, quality standards, and integrated pest control. This results in the production of excellent date cultivars. The farmers and producers are motivated to establish date palm plantations through building research centers and providing agricultural assistance.

Market Opportunity

What are the Future Prospects of the Data Palm Industry? 

The governments of several countries are making efforts to encourage the use of date palms as a source of food, medicine, and waste management. The Asian Pacific countries like Malaysia are heavily dependent on imported dates. There is a great demand for date producers to expand the supply chain of primary and secondary date products in countries like Malaysia. There is a huge demand for date fruits and date products, especially during the fasting month of Ramadhan. Dates or date fruits are gaining a wide popularity due to their health advantages and nutritional value.

Consumers highly prefer dessert dates on the market that are made from pitted dried dates and are present in fresh, chilled, or frozen forms. There are potential opportunities to establish large scale date palm plantations to meet global local demands. The effective marketing of locally produced date fruits is important to reduce the reliance on imports. The optimized systems of supply and distribution increase accessibility, especially for local consumers.

Market Challenges

What are the Date Palm Issues and Concerns for Date-Producing Countries?

A tough profit results due to economic factors like rising input costs and fluctuating markets, while the profits can be enhanced by value-added products. Businesses face infrastructure issues and poor supply networks. A combination of technologies and traditional practices showcases the need for targeted support and infrastructure. Governments and industry leaders focus on improving date palm sustainability and efficiency for long-term growth and resilience.

All date producing countries face common issues regarding cultivation methods, soil and water conditions, low-quality cultivars, pests and diseases, poor farm management, etc. Furthermore, they face issues regarding harvest and postharvest techniques, workforce, processing equipment, technical support and extension, etc. There are great concerns about date-producing countries related to domestic and international marketing, and a lack of research and development activities.

Regional Insights

How Middle East and Africa Dominated the Date Palm Market in 2024? 

The Middle East and Africa dominated the date palm market in 2024, due to date palm cultivation and sustainable supply chain practices in countries like Saudi Arabia and across the region. The Middle East and Africa locations hold the presence of long-grown date palms, which are important for regional economies, environmental sustainability, and food security. The key research field in this region is sustainable date palm agriculture. Date palm planting is connected to local, ecological, and cultural activities, which make a region a good place to study sustainable agriculture. The technological integration, economic considerations, and supply chain efficiency impact sustainable cultivation practices across this region.

The adoption of digital management systems and precision agriculture by industries supports research and development. A significant contribution by farmers, industry experts, and supply chain managers supports the regional market’s expansion. The acknowledgment of the importance of modernization by stakeholders and their strong cultural attachment with traditional practices drives the growth of the date palm market in this region.

How does Saudi Arabia Contribute to Delivering Economic Nourishment? 

In Saudi Arabia, there is a deep cultural and economic value of date fruits. The dates hold a major role in the daily life of Arabian people and showcase the symbol of Arabian hospitality. Saudi Arabia contributed to various international and local initiatives that have raised the market value of dates. The establishment of the National Center for Palms and Dates along with the International Dates Council raised the importance of dates in this country. There is a membership of 11 producing countries in these organizations. The presence of more than 33 million palm trees, which represent 27% of the total number in the world, and 123,000 of agricultural holdings in the Kingdom, result in the expansion of the date palm market in this country and across the region.

Saudi Arabia is actively involved in the global marketing of dates as top-tier products through various channels. This country also engages in global food expos like Gulfood and SIAL, which boosts the recognition and interests of the targeted companies in date fruit. This Kingdom promotes the global date palm industry by bringing together date-producing and consuming nations. These efforts resulted in knowledge exchange, trade partnerships, and collaborative efforts to bring dates as a staple food to the forefront globally.

There are advancements in date cultivation through R&D and farmer training programs in this country. The collaborations with Saudi entities help to boost date production by empowering improved cultivars and implementing advanced agricultural practices. The Saudi Arabian farmers are dedicated to regenerative and smart agriculture, which shapes the vision of sustainable agriculture development in this country. 

• According to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Madinah, a city in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, experienced a 31% increase in data production in 2024, which has reached more than 343,000 tons. (Source: Food Business Middle East & Africa)

How is Saudi Arabia Covering the Country’s Global Palm Tree Population to Lead the Data Palm Industry? 

Saudi Arabia represents the hub of the global palm tree population, which provides a strong foundation for the Kingdom to lead the date palm industry. This country has taken a key initiative by introducing the Saudi Dates Mark, which is a quality certification that ensures compliance with international food safety and quality standards. This certification enhances the global reputation of Saudi Arabia through its premium products. This country meets global preferences through its export strategy by exporting organic and value-added date products such as date-based snacks, syrup, and date paste.

There is an active participation of this Kingdom in international forums and exhibitions to leading Saudi dates as key products in the global market. Saudi Arabia is also moving towards expanding value added products such as health supplements, energy bars, and premium gift packaging. The Saudi Vision 2030 focuses on increasing non-oil exports and economic diversification. This vision and efforts are driven by using the country’s natural resources and cultural heritage that support the objectives of the vision. 

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council announced the approval of the proposal of Saudi Arabia to declare 2027 the International Year of Date Palm. (Source: Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture-MEWA)

Asia Pacific is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Date Palm Market During the Forecast Period. 

The 2024 Asian Seed Congress was hosted in many cities in the Asia Pacific region, including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Shanghai, New Delhi, Bangkok, etc. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations organized the World Fruit Forum, especially for banana fruits, as the World Banana Forum to work together for sustainable production and trade. In April 2024, the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub conducted the regional meeting for the Asia and the Pacific region known as the ‘Food Systems Transformation Progress Review’ in Bangkok, Thailand. It was held to advance sustainable food systems transformation as the principal accelerator to achieve the sustainable development goal. In June 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated World Food Safety Day while preparing for the unexpected scenarios.

• In December 2024, the Asia & Pacific Seed Alliance and the China National Seed Trade Association held the 2024 Asian Seed Congress as the most crucial event in the Asian Pacific seed industrial history, which was supported by the Sanya government and Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City. (Source: Asian Seed Congress APSA)

What are the Specific Initiatives in India towards Horticulture and Sustainability? 

The Indian State Government announced the assistance of minimum support prices for local fruits in 2024-25. It also aims to provide equitable compensation for local fruit cultivators. The Indian government is committed to enhancing farmers’ welfare and income through these initiatives. Some other initiatives also aim to secure fair pricing for fruit producers, which raises the profile of local fruits. These efforts encourage the growth in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. The horticulture sector in India focuses on trade initiatives for new products including fresh fruits, vegetables, and floriculture. The government is involved in developing export protocols for fresh fruits, fresh produce, and potential products. There are pre-clearance programs for various fruits and vegetables. The trade initiatives for export and capacity-building programs help the expansion of the date palm market in India and across the region. 

• In June 2024, the UN Environment Programme celebrated World Environment Day in Bangkok by focusing on land restoration and building drought resilience, for which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attended this event as the global host. (Source: UN Environment Programme)

North America is Seen to Grow at a Notable Rate in the Date Palm Market in 2024. 

The establishment of the California Fruit and Vegetables EBT Pilot Project by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) supports the development and adoption of fresh fruits and vegetables in this region. California, one of the prominent Northern American countries, makes efforts to provide benefits to CalFresh recipients. These benefits are easily accessible to adopt by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These benefits are accessible to authorized product retailers located in any place in the near future. The increased focus of industrial collaborations and organizations on creating stable supply chains contributes to ensuring sustainable production. These initiatives are helpful for the betterment of societies and communities in North America. 

How does the Canadian Government Help the Fruit Sector? 

The Canadian government supports the fruit sector by presenting new opportunities. The governments of Canada and Ontario assisted 128 producers of apple and producers of table grape and tender fruit to encourage the production of more popular varieties of produce. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) provided funding assistance of $4.4 million, which will present several growth opportunities.

• In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $4.4 million to enable fruit growers to fulfill the growing consumer demands. (Source: Canada.ca)

Segmental Insights

Product Type Insights 

How Dried Dates Dominated the Date Palm Market in 2024? 

The dried dates segment dominated the date palm market in 2024. Dried dates are in high demand due to their rich contents, such as calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and sugar, which are advantageous to the human body. Moreover, they are good sources of magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium. The polyphenols and other compounds present in dried dates help in better digestion, cancer prevention, and diabetes management.

The Date Syrup Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Date Palm Market During the Predicted Timeframe. 

The date syrup provides nutritional health benefits by providing energy for daily activities, improving brain function, promoting natural labor, and promoting healthy digestion. The antioxidants present in date syrup protect the human body against free radicals. It is a superb alternative to conventional sweeteners where date syrup can replace sugar to give sweetness to products like date syrup ice-cream. It is the ideal alternative to honey among vegans and a suitable sweetener for diabetes. 

Form Insights 

What Made Whole Dates the Dominant Segment in the Date Palm Market in 2024? 

The whole date segment dominated the date palm market in 2024. Regular consumption of whole dates results in healthy bowel movements, provides energy to the body, works as an anti-inflammatory agent, and improves brain functionality. The intake of whole dates facilitates natural labor, reduces the risk of cancer, fights microbial infections, and helps in diabetes management. They can improve kidneys, improve fertility among males, promote bone health, improve skin health, and are helpful for hair growth. 

The Chopped Dates Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Date Palm Market During the Forecast Period. 

The chopped dates help to manage blood sugar, protect against cognitive decline, provide nutrients, and support heart health. They are rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids, sterols, tannins, and polyphenols. These antioxidants help the human body to reduce oxidative stress and exhibit antifungal properties.

Application Insights

How did the Food and Beverage Applications Segment Dominate the Date Palm Market in 2024? 

The food and beverage applications segment dominated the date palm market in 2024. A wide range of products, such as energy bars, syrup, sugar, jam, candies, juice, paste, condiments, and pickled dates, are developed from processed dates by scientists. Moreover, some other products are available with the added value of dates, which include almonds, peanuts, pistachios, chocolate, red chili powder, and grated coconut. The byproducts of fermented dates include beer, liquor, wine, and vinegar by oxidation and alcohol by distillation. The products derived from date seed are oil and coffee, which showcase the wide utilization of dates in food and beverage products.

The Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Date Palm Market During the Predicted Timeframe. 

The dates have been used in dietary, pharmaceutical, and nutraceuticals applications because they are a rich source of carbohydrates such as fructose, maltose, dextrose, sucrose, and dietary fiber. They are also rich in micronutrients like vitamins and minerals and are an excellent source of chemical compounds like phytosterols, carotenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids. They act as potential therapeutic agents against cancer, heart disease, and other health conditions.

Recent Developments in the Date Palm Market

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

• Achievement: In February 2025, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas announced that one of its outstanding projects, named the Solar Mobile Dryer for drying and maturing dates, had got the Date Palm Innovation Technology Excellence Prize in 2024. It was awarded by the National Center for Palms & Dates in Riyadh situated in Saudi Arabia which has recognized advancements in the date palm sector. (Source: ICARDA)

Ministry of Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (MOA)

• Announcement: In November 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation held the 6th International Festival of Jordanian Dates in Amman, which was driven by the Jordan Dates Association, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and many other regulatory authorities. (Source: 7 Date Palm Festival)

Date Palm Market Leading Companies

• Natural Delights
• Best Food Company LLC
• Atul Rajasthan Date Palm Ltd (ARDP)
• Bayara Saudi Arabia Ltd.
• Al Barakah Dates Factory
• Hadiklaim Date Growers Cooperative Ltd.
• Ithmar Taiba Dates Company
• EMIRATES DATES
• PHOENIX AGROTECH LLC
• Bard Valley Natural Delights
• Barari Group
• HAIFA DATTESegments Covered 

Segment Covered in the Report

By Product Type

• Fresh dates
• Dried dates
• Date syrup
• Date paste
• Date powder
• Other date products

By Form

• Whole dates
• Chopped dates
• Pitted dates
• Date pieces

By Application

• Food and beverage applications
  • Bakery and confectionery
  • Dairy products
  • Snacks and bars
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Beverages and drinks
  • Other food applications
• Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Functional foods
  • Sports nutrition
• Pharmaceutical applications
  • Traditional medicine
  • Modern pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics and personal care
  • Skincare products
  • Haircare products
  • Other personal care applications
• Animal feed
  • Livestock feed
  • Pet food
• Industrial applications
  • Biofuel production
  • Textile industry
  • Other industrial uses

By Region 

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Latin America