Iraq: Date Market 2025

Date Market Size in Iraq

The Iraqi date market dropped slightly to $X in 2022, approximately equating the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption, however, showed a mild decline. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the market value increased by 9.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Date Production in Iraq

In value terms, date production declined slightly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, recorded a slight reduction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the production volume increased by 6.5%. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2022, production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In 2022, the average yield of dates in Iraq reached X tons per ha, approximately equating 2021. Over the period under review, the yield, however, saw a perceptible contraction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the yield increased by 40% against the previous year. The date yield peaked at X tons per ha in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the yield stood at a somewhat 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, the date harvested area in Iraq amounted to X ha, increasing by 3.5% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the total harvested area indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its figure 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. Based on 2022 figures, date harvested area decreased by -3.3% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 42% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the harvested area dedicated to date production attained the peak figure at X ha in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, the harvested area remained at a lower figure.

Date Exports

Exports from Iraq

In 2022, the amount of dates exported from Iraq amounted to X tons, surging by 3% on the previous year. In general, total exports indicated a remarkable increase from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports decreased by -2.9% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 24%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of X tons. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, date exports fell to $X in 2022. Overall, total exports indicated a moderate expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +2.3% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 28%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

India (X tons) was the main destination for date exports from Iraq, with a 95% share of total exports. It was followed by Turkey (X tons), with a 2.1% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume to India stood at +15.5%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Turkey (+47.0% per year) and Egypt (+4.8% per year).

In value terms, India ($X) remains the key foreign market for dates exports from Iraq, comprising 83% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Egypt ($X), with an 11% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value to India stood at +11.3%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Egypt (+14.3% per year) and Turkey (+41.1% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average date export price amounted to $X per ton, with a decrease of -5.1% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price continues to indicate a perceptible decline. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when the average export price increased by 11%. The export price peaked at $X per ton in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major external markets. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Egypt ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Turkey ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Egypt (+9.1%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Date Imports

Imports into Iraq

Date imports into Iraq fell to X tons in 2022, which is down by -10.2% compared with 2021 figures. In general, imports saw a deep contraction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 30%. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at X tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, date imports dropped to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports recorded a deep reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 39%. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2022, South Africa (X tons) constituted the largest date supplier to Iraq, with a 61% share of total imports. Moreover, date imports from South Africa exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Jordan (X tons), threefold.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume from South Africa was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Jordan (+5.2% per year) and Turkey (+9.1% per year).

In value terms, the largest date suppliers to Iraq were South Africa ($X), Jordan ($X) and Turkey ($X), together comprising 93% of total imports.

Among the main suppliers, Jordan, with a CAGR of +29.2%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average date import price amounted to $X per ton, shrinking by -4.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated resilient growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +5.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, date import price increased by +5.9% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 an increase of 30% against the previous year. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2016 to 2022, the average import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Jordan ($X per ton), while the price for Turkey ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Kuwait (+33.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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