Tunis – Revenue from Tunisian date exports soared by nearly 20% during the current crop season from the preceding one, the Ministry of Agriculture reported this Tuesday (8). Since the crop season began on October 1st, 2016, exports reached TND 530.4 million (USD 218.3 million), up from TND 445.8 million (USD 183.5 million) in the preceding season. The information was released by Tunis Afrique Presse (APS).
The current season saw 103,000 tons exported, including 12,000 tons of organic dates, down from 104,000 tons total in the last season – meaning prices are higher this year.
TAP said the hike in prices came as a result of new destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. The premier market for Tunisian dates, however, is the Maghreb, a region comprising Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania. Next on the list are France, Italy, Spain, Malaysia and Germany.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum