Saudi Arabia ranked first worldwide by the value of date exports for a fourth consecutive year, according to a Saudi Press Agency report published on 3 October 2026. Citing International Trade Centre data, the report put the value of the Kingdom’s date exports in 2025 at SAR 1.938 billion. The announcement did not claim that Saudi Arabia shipped the largest tonnage or held a specified share of the global market. It presented the date sector as part of agriculture’s contribution to the economy. The reported export figure covers 2025, rather than a harvest or shipment result for 2026.

Ahmed Al-Mousa, chief executive of the National Center for Palms and Dates, attributed the result to coordinated work by government entities, private businesses and industry partners to improve supply chains and export efficiency. He also pointed to the center’s initiative to enable date exports and access to international markets as a driver of wider reach. The SPA report said Saudi dates are exported to about 125 countries. The announcement cited quality, safety standards and product variety as factors associated with international demand, but provided no separate measures or comparison with competing exporters.

The SPA report said the Kingdom has more than 37 million palm trees and annual date production above 1.9 million tonnes. These are distinct indicators from export value: tree count describes cultivation scale, production measures agricultural output, and SAR 1.938 billion is the value of 2025 exports. The National Center for Palms and Dates said it continues programmes to improve the value chain and strengthen Saudi dates’ position in international retail markets. Its public services include export certificates and shipment verification through accredited export centres, processes relevant to meeting requirements in foreign markets. The SPA report did not quantify certification’s effect or announce a new subsidy, investment amount or policy change. It reported a fourth consecutive year in first place by export value and the stated 2025 total.