Market Outlook • Dates (Phoenix dactylifera)
India Dates Market 2025–26: Prices, Imports & Ramadan Demand
Quick answer: Expect firm pricing for Ajwa, Medjool, Safawi, and Mazafati into early 2026. Retailers should secure premium Saudi and Iranian lots by December 2025, plan inventory for Ramadan 2026 in India starting Feb 18 (subject to local moon sighting), and re-check labels for the latest FSSAI display rules.
Deep dives: Ajwa benefits & sourcing • Medjool vs Mazafati (bulk) • Safawi wholesale guide
Global production snapshot: Egypt leads; Saudi captures premium demand
Global date output remains concentrated across MENA. Egypt leads by tonnage, followed by Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, and Iraq. This hierarchy anchors private harvest forecasts used for 2025–2028 planning and helps Indian importers anticipate supply windows for premium cultivars.
Saudi Arabia’s strategy focuses on value capture across premium grades like Ajwa and Safawi. Export values have strengthened year over year, signaling healthy downstream demand in Asia—especially India—where religious festivals and gifting seasons amplify sales.
Top producers (indicative ranking)
| Rank | Country | Production signal | Why importers care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | Largest by tonnage | Benchmark for supply elasticity |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | Premium export growth | Price leadership for Ajwa/Safawi |
| 3 | Algeria | Strong North Africa base | Diversifies Medjool sourcing |
| 4 | Iran | Mazafati seasonality | Fresh/cold-chain demand timing |
Signal: Tighter premium grades (Ajwa, large Medjool) lift wholesale offers 6–10 weeks before Ramadan; Omani lots anchor value segments.
India demand & import trends: Ramadan and gifting hold volumes high
India relies on imports for premium varieties—Ajwa, Safawi, Medjool, and Mazafati. A multi-origin basket spreads risk, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, and re-export hubs in the Gulf shaping landed prices. Procurement teams track festival calendars and logistics costs (including cold-chain for Mazafati) to optimize margins.
India imports (HS 080410 — signal overview)
| Partner | Trend | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Firm | Premium varieties; branding-led demand |
| Oman | Stable | Value lots for price-point packs |
| Iran | Seasonal | Mazafati refrigeration and rotation |
| North Africa | Mixed | Medjool grade availability |
Price watch: Ajwa, Medjool, Omani, Safawi, Mazafati
Channel checks across Navi Mumbai APMC and nationwide wholesalers indicate steady-to-firm pricing into Q4-2025 and early 2026. Premium scarcity (Ajwa, large Medjool) and cold-chain costs (Mazafati) support offers, while Omani lots provide accessible retail price points.
| Variety | Supply Signal | Price Bias | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajwa (SA) | Tight-to-steady | ⬆︎ | Festive/gifting pull |
| Safawi (SA) | Steady | ⬆︎ | Value vs Ajwa; hampers |
| Medjool (ME/NA) | Tight | ⬆︎ | Jumbo/Large scarcity |
| Omani | Ample | ⬌ | Anchor for price ladders |
| Mazafati (IR) | Seasonal | ⬆︎ | Cold-chain logistics |
Action: Lock Ramadan-facing assortments by December; prioritize 250–500 g gifting SKUs and 1 kg pantry packs.
Festivals & Ramadan 2026 (India): inventory timing that wins
In India, Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, subject to local moon sighting on the evening of Tuesday, February 17. Retailers typically see a build-up in premium date sales 4–8 weeks prior and a second surge during gifting in the final 10 nights.
Seasonal demand cues beyond Ramadan
- Diwali 2025 (Oct/Nov): Gift boxes featuring Ajwa/Safawi assortments perform well.
- Winter tourism (Oct–Dec): Oman showcases Omani varieties—useful for supplier scouting.
Regulatory watch: FSSAI Labelling & Display checks
Packaged dates must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020. Ensure labels show the product name, vegetarian logo, FSSAI license, net quantity, date/lot, nutritional information (100 g basis), storage instructions (refrigeration guidance for high-moisture dates like Mazafati), importer details, and customer care.
Checklist: Re-audit labels whenever you change pack size, supplier origin, or add a new variety. Keep artwork synced with current regulations; many brands plan label switches to coincide with packaging print runs to reduce waste.
Buying playbook for Indian retailers (Q3-2025 to Q1-2026)
1) Lock premium Saudi grades early
Forward-buy Ajwa and Safawi by December. Bundle premium assortments for Ramadan pre-sales and corporate gifting.
2) Balance with Omani value lots
Use Omani semi-soft packs as the price anchor. Cross-merchandise with nuts and pantry staples to lift basket size.
3) Treat Mazafati as fresh
Higher moisture demands cooler storage and faster rotation. Position for desserts and suhoor packs; communicate refrigeration on-shelf and online PDPs.
4) Optimize pack-mix and margins
| Segment | Pack Sizes | Target Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (Value) | 250 g / 500 g | 15–20% | Omani, Deri |
| Core (Gifting) | 500 g / 1 kg | 18–25% | Ajwa, Safawi |
| Premium | 500 g / 1 kg | 20–28% | Medjool (Large/Jumbo), Mazafati |
5) Communicate provenance & quality
On PDPs and shelf-talkers, highlight origin (e.g., Medina for Ajwa; Bam, Kerman for Mazafati), grade, and storage guidance. This builds shopper trust and justifies premium price tiers.
FAQs: India Dates Market 2025–26
What is the expected Ajwa price trend in India for 2026?
Ajwa wholesale offers are biased upward through early 2026 driven by Ramadan demand and premium-grade tightness.
When will Ramadan 2026 likely start in India?
Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 in India, subject to local moon sighting.
Which HS Code covers dates imports into India?
HS 080410 covers dates. Buyers track this code for import statistics and landed-price analysis.
How should Mazafati dates be stored at retail?
Handle Mazafati as a fresh, high-moisture product: maintain a cooler chain and communicate refrigeration on pack and PDPs.
What must appear on FSSAI-compliant date labels?
Product name, net quantity, vegetarian logo, FSSAI license, nutrition (per 100 g), lot/date, storage guidance, importer details, and customer care.
Methodology, sourcing & corrections
We synthesize official statistics (global production, India import classifications), trade intelligence, and on-ground channel checks with importers, distributors, and APMC market participants. Editorially, we prioritize clarity, sourcing transparency, and practical guidance for retailers and procurement teams.
Editorial standards
Dates.Business follows Google News policies: original reporting, clear attribution, limited third-party imagery, and prompt corrections. To request a correction, email editor@dates.business. To share data or provide an on-record quote, write to newsdesk@dates.business.
About us
Dates.Business is a category-specialist newsroom and knowledge hub for India’s dates trade—covering sourcing, pricing, compliance, and retail execution. We publish frequent market updates and monthly deep dives.
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