Europe: Date Market 2025

Date Market Size in Europe

In 2022, the Europe date market decreased by -12.5% to $X for the first time since 2019, thus ending a two-year rising trend. The total consumption indicated a buoyant increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the market hit record highs at $X in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

Date Production in Europe

In value terms, date production fell to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the production volume increased by 44% against the previous year. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2015 to 2022, production growth failed to regain momentum.

The country with the largest volume of date production was Albania (X tons), comprising approx. 91% of total volume. Moreover, date production in Albania exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Spain (X tons), tenfold.

In Albania, date production increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% over the period from 2012-2022.

In 2022, the average date yield in Europe amounted to X tons per ha, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year's figure. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when the yield increased by 11%. Over the period under review, the date yield attained the peak level at X tons per ha in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, the yield remained at a lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2022, approx. X ha of dates were harvested in Europe; remaining relatively unchanged against 2021 figures. Over the period under review, the harvested area recorded a slight downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 12%. As a result, the harvested area attained the peak level of X ha. From 2015 to 2022, the growth of the date harvested area failed to regain momentum.

Date Exports

Exports in Europe

In 2022, shipments abroad of dates decreased by -7.4% to X tons, falling for the second consecutive year after two years of growth. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a strong expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when exports increased by 27%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, date exports declined significantly to $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, showed a resilient expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 26% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2022, the Netherlands (X tons) and France (X tons) represented the major exporters of dates in Europe, together finishing at near 55% of total exports. Germany (X tons) took the next position in the ranking, distantly followed by Denmark (X tons) and Belgium (X tons). All these countries together took approx. 23% share of total exports. The UK (X tons), Spain (X tons), Italy (X tons), Slovakia (X tons), Russia (X tons) and Belarus (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Belarus (with a CAGR of +70.1%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($X) remains the largest date supplier in Europe, comprising 39% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by France ($X), with a 19% share of total exports. It was followed by Germany, with a 14% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in the Netherlands stood at +15.4%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: France (+0.6% per year) and Germany (+9.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in Europe amounted to $X per ton, falling by -9.1% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.5%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when the export price increased by 8.3% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton, and then fell in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($X per ton), while Belarus ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the UK (+4.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Date Imports

Imports in Europe

In 2022, after six years of growth, there was significant decline in overseas purchases of dates, when their volume decreased by -8.8% to X tons. Total imports indicated a resilient expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when imports increased by 15% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2021, and then contracted in the following year.

In value terms, date imports fell to $X in 2022. Total imports indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 when imports increased by 17% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, France (X tons), distantly followed by Germany (X tons), the UK (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Italy (X tons), Spain (X tons) and Russia (X tons) represented the largest importers of dates, together creating 74% of total imports. Belgium (X tons), Denmark (X tons), Belarus (X tons), Poland (X tons) and Sweden (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Belarus (with a CAGR of +24.2%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest date importing markets in Europe were France ($X), the UK ($X) and Germany ($X), with a combined 45% share of total imports. The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Belarus lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 39%.

Belarus, with a CAGR of +18.1%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, falling by -3.8% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.1%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the import price increased by 8.2%. Over the period under review, import prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2021, and then shrank modestly in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($X per ton), while Belarus ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+2.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform