Exporting dates to Europe

The demand for dates in Europe is increasing. Dates are particularly popular for their sweetness, as a natural source of energy, as a sugar substitute, as an ingredient in fruit bars and as a cooking ingredient. Opportunities for suppliers from developing countries can be found in large markets, such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Date consumers are no longer mostly from the traditional ethnic populations. They are increasingly coming from younger groups of consumers (millennials) following healthy living trends. New suppliers must be able to compete with producers from Tunisia and Algeria, as well as with other growing suppliers.