Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt denies importing dates from Israel
Egypt’s Cabinet Media Center has firmly denied recent claims circulating on social media that the country is importing dates from Israel. In an official statement shared across its social media platforms, the Media Center clarified the situation after engaging directly with Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.
The statement underscored that Israel is not an approved origin for palm products, including dates, in Egypt. The Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that Egypt does not import fresh dates, except for small quantities from specific approved origins, and only for varieties that are not widely available domestically. Imports of dried or semi-dried dates occur outside the main production season and are primarily intended to support the food processing industry.
As the world’s largest date producer, Egypt harvests over 2 million tons annually from nearly 24 million date palms. The Ministry noted ongoing efforts to expand the country’s export capacity and open new international markets, pointing to Egypt’s leadership in both production and export initiatives.
Latest data published by the ministry lists Saudi Arabia as Egypt’s main date supplier in 2025, providing over 21,494 tons, followed by Iraq, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. The total quantity of dates imported from all sources reached 29,439 tons.
Egyptian officials stressed that these recent rumors are part of a wider campaign targeting the country’s agricultural exports, especially as major trade events such as Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin approach. The ministry highlighted the sector’s robust performance, citing exports exceeding 9.5 million tons for the first time, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the smooth flow of Egyptian agricultural products to global markets.