The 15th International Date Palm Fair (SIDATTES 2026) in Erfoud has brought together over 230 Moroccan and international exhibitors to address a production gap in the national market. While Morocco expects to produce 180,000 tonnes of dates for the 2026-2027 season, national demand remains higher, estimated between 220,000 and 250,000 tonnes annually.
Did You Know? The date palm sector generates more than 3 billion DH in added value and supports over 3.4 million workdays per year, according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Maritime Sovereignty Khalid Hatimy.
International Producers Target Moroccan Demand
Foreign exhibitors are utilizing the fair to establish trade links with the Kingdom. César Moreno of Medjool of Mexico, who primarily exports to the U.S., is participating for the first time to introduce Mexican dates to Moroccan consumers. Moreno noted that visitors described his products as having a creamier texture and sweeter taste than local varieties.
Egypt continues to view Morocco as its primary market for date exports. Mohamed Refaat, representing the Ministry of Industry, stated that Egyptian companies have participated in SIDATTES for seven or eight editions. Refaat highlighted the diversity of Egyptian offerings, specifically the Barhi and Mejhoul varieties, and urged more Egyptian firms to enter the Moroccan market.
Representatives from the United Arab Emirates, including Mohamed El-Belouchi, are also attending to exchange technical expertise with local farmers and producers.
Expert Insight: The gap between Morocco’s projected 180,000-tonne yield and its 250,000-tonne consumption ceiling creates a structural dependency on imports. This vulnerability explains why foreign producers from Mexico and Egypt are pursuing the Moroccan market, while the government simultaneously pushes for increased local storage and production capacity to stabilize prices.
ONSSA Enforces Phytosanitary Protections
To protect the national palm grove, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) has deployed a surveillance system focused on two primary threats. A “zero tolerance” policy is in place against bayoud, a destructive fungal disease known as “palm cancer,” for which there is no curative treatment.
Authorities are also combating the red palm weevil, first detected in Tangier in 2008. The current strategy involves strict quarantine measures and mandatory monthly chemical treatments for infested areas. ONSSA requires all operators in strategic zones—including the oases of Figuig, Tafilalet, Oued Drâa, and Jbel Bani—to register and maintain individual logs.
DRA Implements Irrigation Projects in Figuig Oases
In the Oriental region, the Direction Régionale de l’Agriculture (DRA) reports that the Figuig oases cover 2,700 hectares with an estimated annual production of 15,000 tonnes. The regional variety is led by Assian (19%), Feggous (16%), Majhoul (14%), and Khalt (12%).
To sustain these yields, the DRA has implemented irrigation projects, including the restoration of 50 km of khettaras and the distribution of 69,700 vitroplants. A solidarity agriculture project scheduled for 2027 will allocate 17.54 million dirhams to 1,845 beneficiaries, 41% of whom are young people.
Parallel to these efforts, a Forum of Investment organized by the ADA and partners discussed adapting the sector to climate change and integrating digital tools into commercialization.
Future Sector Outlook
The Moroccan government may focus on expanding storage capacities to better regulate domestic prices and reduce the impact of production shortfalls. Efforts to increase the use of vitroplants and localized irrigation could lead to higher yields in the coming seasons.
International cooperation may deepen as Egyptian and Mexican producers seek more permanent footprints in the Moroccan market to fill the existing supply deficit.
What Are the Main Threats to Moroccan Date Palms?
What are the main threats to Moroccan date palms?
The primary threats are bayoud, a fungal disease with no cure, and the red palm weevil, which bores into the trunk. ONSSA manages these through a zero-tolerance policy for bayoud and monthly chemical treatments for weevil infestations.
How many people depend on the date sector for income?
Khalid Hatimy stated that nearly 2 million Moroccan citizens derive income, either directly or indirectly, from the date palm sector.
What is the specific production outlook for the Figuig oasis?
The DRA of the Oriental region estimates a total production of approximately 15,000 tonnes from 2,700 hectares of palms in the Figuig oases.
Will the increase in international cooperation and investment be enough to close the 70,000-tonne gap between Morocco’s production and its annual consumption?
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