Morocco Turns Off the Tap as Tunisian Dates Seek Buyers Elsewhere
Moroccan restrictions on date imports are beginning to divert part of Tunisia’s date industry away from its primary market. Exporters are stepping up their efforts in Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Morocco remains the main market for Tunisian dates, but the next season looks set to be more complicated. Mohamed Akermi, an exporter interviewed by FreshPlaza, explains that his Moroccan clients expect the restrictions to remain in place.
According to the information available to the professional, Moroccan imports would not resume before the end of January. They would then be subject to authorizations and quotas. This prospect is significant enough for Tunisian exporters to start seeking other markets now.
On Bladi.net : Morocco closes its doors to Tunisian dates
This situation extends the difficulties that emerged during the previous season. Morocco had reactivated an old regulation governing imports, a decision that had surprised Tunisian exporters and led to the blocking of around 15,000 tonnes of dates in Casablanca.
The stakes are considerable for Tunisia’s date industry. During the first five months of the 2025-2026 season, Morocco still accounted for 17.1% of Tunisian date exports, ahead of all other countries individually.
Tunisian Deglet Nour Seeks New Customers
Faced with this dependence, exporters are now turning more toward Asia. The professional mentions a major intensification of commercial efforts and participation in specialized trade fairs before the start of the new season.
Deglet Nour already enjoys a good reputation in Malaysia and Indonesia. Producers want to build on these markets to increase their volumes and enter other Asian countries with large Muslim populations.
These markets also offer an advantage: sales can continue after Ramadan thanks to packaged and pitted dates, whereas demand during the holy month focuses more on dates sold on the branch.
On Bladi.net : article 117423
The change is significant for an industry that has depended on Moroccan consumers for years. During the previous season, Morocco still bought more than 20% of the volumes of dates exported by Tunisia. If the announced restrictions remain in place, some of the Deglet Nour that traditionally headed to Morocco will therefore have to be redirected toward Asia and Europe.