Imports
The EU is an important market in terms of value, even though it imports relatively small quantities of
dates. Compared with over half a million metric tonnes imported every year in the world, the EU
accounts for 10 percent of the total with some 50 000 tonnes (excluding intra-EU trade). However, it
accounts for approximately 30 percent of global date imports in value with a net average of US$85
million per year in the 1999-2000 period.