Good season lifts Moroccan date supply and quality

MOROCCO – Moroccan date growers report a strong season marked by higher volumes and better quality after favorable weather across key producing areas.

Othmane Tahiri Alaoui of the Arsat Nakhil cooperative in Erfoud says the improvement covers all date varieties grown in the country. He links the gains to rainfall last year and to calm conditions during harvest.

“Since the harvest began in September, we have seen a marked improvement in quality and volume across all varieties. In the eastern oases, from Errachidia to Erfoud, volumes have increased by nearly 50% thanks to the rains that blessed our country last year. The timing of the rains was also advantageous, as we did not have heavy rains in September at the time of harvest, which would have been a problem.”

Alaoui adds that premium dates have also benefited from modern farming methods and public support. “The improvement in quality and volume undoubtedly applies to premium dates such as Medjool, which are now grown on modern farms and receive special attention from growers supported by the government as part of the Green Morocco Plan. Apart from these varieties, we are also seeing all other varieties of dates benefiting from better production conditions and delivering strong yields this season.”

Ramadan demand drives fast sales

As Ramadan approaches in mid February, trade activity has picked up across producing towns. Growers and traders have begun supplying cities nationwide, and stocks move quickly.

“All the dates that come onto the market are sold the same day, no crates are returned to warehouses. Erfoud is busy with traders who come to stock up on dates and then redistribute them throughout the country.”

Despite the larger crop, Alaoui expects stable pricing. “Growers and traders alike are maintaining prices similar to last year and focusing more on quantity.”

Sorting and packing practices have also improved, which has helped raise value in the local market. “Even for the local market, we are doing more sorting to enhance the value of large sizes. The same applies to packaging, as we are seeing that consumer preference is shifting towards small packaging of 1 or 2 kg, even smaller in supermarkets, instead of the 5 kg boxes or 7 to 8 kg crates that were previously the norm.”

Exports back on the agenda

The stronger season has opened space for exports after years of focus on domestic sales. “Until now, I didn’t export much because the local market was more than sufficient. Now it’s time to step up our efforts to explore international markets, and I’ll be participating in the International Green Week exhibition in Berlin from January 16 to 25.”

Morocco ranks among the world’s leading date consumer markets and stands as the second largest importer after India. Demand remains steady year round, with a sharp rise during Ramadan, giving growers confidence as they look to balance local sales with wider market outreach.

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