Egypt is entering the 2025/26 Medjool date season with optimism, as early harvests show excellent quality and increased volumes. According to Khaled El-Haggan, CEO of Haggan Group, favorable weather conditions and growing international demand – particularly in Europe, Canada, and East Asia—are driving expectations for a record year. With Medjool dates rapidly shifting from a niche to a mainstream product, Egypt is positioning itself as a leading global supplier, writes EastFruit according to FreshPlaza.
The grower states: “The first harvests have already begun in some production areas, and the majority of volumes are expected in September. I am delighted to announce that the quality is very good this season. We are also seeing an increase in volumes compared to last season, thanks to more favorable weather conditions and the absence of the sandstorms that affected production last season.”
According to El-Haggan, production for the coming season is characterized by an abundance of large sizes, with some jumbo and medium sizes, and few super jumbo and small sizes. He adds: “This size distribution reflects demand, with most markets preferring large dates to jumbo sizes, as in Europe. Some other markets prefer small sizes, such as in Asia.”
“The coming season will be marked by fierce internal competition among Egyptian exporters,” the grower adds. “Date production has seen a sharp increase, reaching two million tonnes across all varieties. The ecosystem of players in the sector has therefore expanded considerably. As for external competition, I think it will be calmer this season and more advantageous for Egyptian exporters in a continuation of last season’s momentum in the region.”
According to El Haggan, the export campaign is expected to be busiest between October and February, which corresponds to the period between the start of the season and the month of Ramadan. He adds: “We are seeing a surge in popularity for Medjool dates, which are becoming more widely consumed and are no longer solely associated with Ramadan, presenting an excellent opportunity to extend the season. The campaign could even last all year round, as the demand is there. However, volumes are still insufficient.”
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“The expected trend for next season is to focus on three international markets, Europe, Canada, and East Asia, with an emphasis on superior quality, as grade A Medjool dates are rapidly moving from a niche market to a mainstream market. The main focus will be on quality and hygiene in the handling and packaging of the fruit. There is also a trend toward organic Medjool, which is convincing Egyptian growers, as well as the processing of Medjool dates,” El-Haggan continues.
“Egyptian growers and exporters are giving themselves the means to achieve their ambition of breaking through in the international medjool date market. We moved up from 12th to 8th place worldwide in terms of volume last season, and I think we will be in sixth place this season and third in three to five years,” El-Haggan, who also holds a mandate representing Egyptian date growers, concludes.
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