Kenya: Date Market 2025

Date Market Size in Kenya

After five years of growth, the Kenyan date market decreased by -12.5% to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, consumption, however, saw strong growth. Date consumption peaked at $X in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

Date Production in Kenya

In value terms, date production amounted to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, continues to indicate a noticeable setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the production volume increased by 4%. Date production peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

The average yield of dates in Kenya stood at X tons per ha in 2022, approximately mirroring 2021. Overall, the yield, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the yield increased by 3.7% against the previous year. The date yield peaked at X tons per ha in 2012; however, from 2013 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, the total area harvested in terms of dates production in Kenya amounted to X ha, remaining constant against the previous year's figure. Overall, the harvested area continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the harvested area increased by 3%. As a result, the harvested area reached the peak level of X ha. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of the date harvested area remained at a lower figure.

Date Exports

Exports from Kenya

In 2022, overseas shipments of dates decreased by -13.8% to X tons for the first time since 2014, thus ending a seven-year rising trend. In general, exports, however, posted a prominent increase. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 81% against the previous year. The exports peaked at X tons in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

In value terms, date exports fell to $X in 2022. Overall, exports, however, showed a buoyant increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 when exports increased by 82% against the previous year. The exports peaked at $X in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

Exports by Country

Yemen (X tons), Uganda (X tons) and South Sudan (X tons) were the main destinations of date exports from Kenya, with a combined 96% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for South Sudan (with a CAGR of +40.2%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest markets for date exported from Kenya were Uganda ($X), South Sudan ($X) and Yemen ($X), with a combined 83% share of total exports.

Uganda, with a CAGR of +31.5%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, among the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average date export price amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 6.8% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, showed a abrupt setback. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was South Sudan ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Yemen ($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 Uganda (+6.2%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Date Imports

Imports into Kenya

In 2022, imports of dates into Kenya dropped notably to X tons, shrinking by -16.6% compared with the previous year's figure. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a buoyant expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when imports increased by 50%. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons, and then contracted significantly in the following year.

In value terms, date imports fell to $X in 2022. In general, imports, however, saw resilient growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 with an increase of 71% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, the United Arab Emirates (X tons) constituted the largest date supplier to Kenya, with a 79% share of total imports. Moreover, date imports from the United Arab Emirates exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Saudi Arabia (X tons), fivefold.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from the United Arab Emirates totaled +7.3%.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X) constituted the largest supplier of dates to Kenya, comprising 65% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Saudi Arabia ($X), with a 30% share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from the United Arab Emirates stood at +7.6%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average date import price amounted to $X per ton, surging by 5.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated a modest increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% 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 decreased by -6.9% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 an increase of 86%. The import price peaked at $X per ton in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Saudi Arabia ($X per ton), while the price for the United Arab Emirates amounted to $X per ton.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Saudi Arabia (+1.0%).

Source: IndexBox Platform

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