Egypt’s Cabinet firmly denied circulating claims that the country imports dates from Israel, calling the reports “completely unfounded” and warning against what it described as a coordinated attempt to undermine Egypt’s agricultural exports.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Cabinet’s Media Center said it had reviewed social media posts alleging that Egypt had begun importing Israeli dates and confirmed that the information was false. After direct coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the Media Center stressed that Israel is not an approved country of origin for importing palm products into Egypt, including dates.
The Ministry of Agriculture underscored that Egypt allows the import of fresh dates only in limited quantities and exclusively from approved origins, and only for varieties that are not widely cultivated domestically. Imports of dry or semi-dry dates, the ministry added, are permitted outside local production seasons and are primarily intended to meet the needs of food processing industries as raw materials.
Officials highlighted Egypt’s dominant position in the global date market, noting that the country ranks first worldwide in date production, with output exceeding two million tons annually and an estimated 24 million palm trees nationwide. The ministry credited ongoing national agricultural projects with boosting both production capacity and export volumes, alongside continued efforts to open new international markets for Egyptian dates.
According to official data released by the ministry, Egypt’s date imports in 2025 totaled 29,439 tons. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 21,494 tons, followed by Iraq with 5,522 tons and Libya with 1,583 tons. Smaller quantities were imported from Jordan (620 tons), Syria (204 tons), Sudan (15 tons), and the United Arab Emirates (1.7 tons).
The ministry warned that the false reports were part of a “systematic campaign” targeting Egypt’s agricultural exports, particularly as the country prepares to participate in major international trade events, including the Fruit Logistica exhibition in Berlin in 2026. The statement noted that Egypt recently achieved a record milestone by exporting more than 9.5 million tons of agricultural products for the first time.
The Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the smooth flow of Egyptian agricultural exports to global markets, emphasizing that safeguarding the sector’s reputation remains a top priority amid growing international demand.
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