Egypt has achieved robust growth in palm date exports to Vietnam for the third consecutive season, according to EastFruit. The data reveals that Egypt exported 365 tons of palm dates to Vietnam during the first eight months of the current season (July 2024 – February 2025). This marks a 50% increase over the previous season and significantly surpasses earlier records. Export revenue also hit a new high of $194,000.
Vietnam represents a high-potential market for Egyptian exporters, though Morocco and Indonesia remain the primary destinations for Egypt’s palm dates. Rising consumer demand for palm dates in Vietnam has fueled consistent year-on-year import growth. Egypt’s success in this market stems from two key factors: substantial investments in cultivating world-renowned palm date varieties and the ability to offer high-quality, competitively priced products that align with Vietnam’s demand for affordable options.
Typically, Egyptian palm date exports to Vietnam peak between November and December, coinciding with heightened seasonal demand. This season, however, shipments began in October and extended through January, expanding the export window to four months.
Egypt remains a dominant supplier of palm dates to Vietnam, though it faces intensifying competition from Tunisia and Algeria, both of which have increased their market presence in recent years. Additionally, Libya has emerged as a new competitor this season, significantly ramping up its palm date exports. Egypt currently holds a 40% market share after eight months, but this figure may shift as competitors complete their seasons.
Read also: Red Sea blockade: ripple effect on Egypt’s palm date exports to Indonesia
Beyond palm dates, Egypt exports frozen strawberries, oranges, and garlic to Vietnam, though these categories have seen limited growth. Frozen strawberry exports, for example, are hindered by strong competition from China, while orange and garlic shipments face challenges due to logistical constraints and a preference among Vietnamese importers for local or regional suppliers.
In contrast, palm dates remain Egypt’s most dynamic export category, serving as a cornerstone of its fruit and vegetable trade with Vietnam. This growth highlights Vietnam’s strategic importance as a key market for Egyptian palm date producers.
Notably, Egypt also set a record last season by significantly expanding palm date exports to Turkey, further solidifying its position in the global market.
